A groundbreaking study suggests smartwatches could serve as an early screening tool for

A groundbreaking study has shown that smart watches, using artificial intelligence (AI), could potentially detect Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before the onset of key symptoms.

Researchers analyzed the movement speeds of participants over a seven-day period, predicting who would later develop the disease. Parkinson’s, which is the fastest-growing neurological condition worldwide, causes progressive damage to parts of the brain and leads to both physical and psychological symptoms, such as involuntary shaking, slow movement, and muscle stiffness. Other signs include balance issues, loss of sense of smell, memory problems, and insomnia.

In the UK, approximately 145,000 people were living with Parkinson’s in 2020, and it is estimated that one in 37 people will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. Men aged between 50 and 89 are 1.4 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s than women.

The study, led by scientists at the UK Dementia Research Institute and Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute at Cardiff University, involved 103,712 participants who wore medical-grade smart watches between 2013 and 2016. The watches measured the average movement speeds of the participants and compared the data with those already diagnosed with Parkinson’s, using AI to predict the likelihood of the disease’s development.

Study leaders believe this new technology could be used as an early screening tool, allowing for earlier detection and access to treatments, which could be crucial in managing Parkinson’s before significant brain damage occurs. Dr. Cynthia Sandor, an emerging leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute, expressed that these results could lead to a valuable tool for early detection, which would not only aid in research but also enable clinical trials to recruit participants earlier.

Dr. Kathryn Peall, clinical senior lecturer at the Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute, emphasized that early diagnosis is currently difficult, and this technology could give patients access to treatments much earlier, potentially slowing the disease’s progression before extensive brain damage has occurred. By the time symptoms appear, more than half of the brain cells in the substantia nigra – an area responsible for dopamine production – may already be lost.

While this technology is not intended to replace current diagnostic methods, it offers a promising new tool to help detect Parkinson’s earlier, providing patients with better chances for early intervention and treatment.