Tech Made Simple

Hot Topics: How to Fix Bluetooth Pairing Problems | Complete Guide to Facebook Privacy | How to Block Spam Calls | Snapchat Symbol Meaning

We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

author photo

Fitness Trackers Show Promise in Diagnosing Alzheimer's

by Fox Van Allen on October 09, 2013

Nike+ FuelBand

Fitness trackers like the Nike+ FuelBand may be
more effective in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease
than the myriad tests currently in use.

 

My friends can’t get enough of fitness trackers like the Nike FuelBand, Fitbit and Jawbone UP. They’re a great way to get in shape and encourage an active lifestyle. But that’s not their only benefit. According to a team of researchers at the University of Rostock in Germany and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, activity trackers appear to hold promise as a powerful tool for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease – notably better than the tests currently in use.

In a controlled scientific study, researchers placed three-axis accelerometers on the ankles of 23 Alzheimer’s patients and their live-in caretakers. The scientists measured and analyzed the movement data, discovering that fitness trackers allowed them to tell those with neurological decline from healthy adults with 91% accuracy.

This research is incredibly important, as there is currently no single test that diagnoses for Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. More data will need to be collected before activity trackers can go into regular use in medical practice, but these early results are incredibly promising.

In fact, the researchers believe that, one day, diagnosing someone with Alzheimer’s may be as simple as opening an app on a smartphone. “Prospectively, it might even be possible to use the data of established devices such as mobile phones or navigation support devices," explains Rostock University Computer Science Professor Thomas Kirste.


Topics

Health & Fitness, News, Health and Home, Exercise Monitors, Seniors, Blog


Discussion loading

Home | About | Meet the Team | Contact Us
Media Kit | Newsletter Sponsorships | Licensing & Permissions
Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookie Policy

Techlicious participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which provide a small commission from some, but not all, of the "click-thru to buy" links contained in our articles. These click-thru links are determined after the article has been written, based on price and product availability — the commissions do not impact our choice of recommended product, nor the price you pay. When you use these links, you help support our ongoing editorial mission to provide you with the best product recommendations.

© Techlicious LLC.