Smartwatches Show Potential for Early Parkinson's Disease Detection

A recent study suggests that smartwatches may have the ability to diagnose Parkinson's disease up to seven years before symptoms appear. Investigators from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University utilized artificial intelligence to interpret data from 103,712 smartwatch users. By monitoring their speed of movement over a week between 2013 and 2016, they were able to predict who would later develop Parkinson's.

This discovery holds promise for the development of a screening tool to detect early-stage Parkinson's, potentially offering a cost-effective and reliable method due to the increasing prevalence of smartwatch usage globally. The findings indicate that just one week of data can forecast events that occur several years in the future, allowing for improved recruitment into clinical trials and earlier access to treatments when they become available.

The study utilized information from the UK Biobank, a comprehensive health database comprising over half a million individuals. Dr. Kathryn Peall, a researcher involved in the study, stated that the model demonstrated accuracy in differentiating Parkinson's from other conditions that affect movement, such as old age or frailty. However, the decision to inform individuals of their Parkinson's diagnosis years before symptoms manifest remains a personal choice.

While further research and comparisons with global data are necessary to validate these findings, the potential of smartwatches as an early detection tool for Parkinson's disease could significantly impact both research and clinical practice in the future.