Researchers estimate that about 22% of all adults aged 50 and above globally have some stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are focused on finding new ways to recognize early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease as medications can help at the earliest stages. A recent study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that monitoring a person’s daily activity patterns through a wrist-worn device may spot early warning signs of this type of dementia. With the number of Alzheimer’s cases expected to increase, researchers are working towards identifying new methods for early detection.
While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, medications are available for the earliest stages of the disease to help slow down its progression. One of the latest studies on Alzheimer’s disease early detection research comes from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In a study published in the journal SLEEP, scientists found that monitoring a person’s daily activity patterns through a wrist-worn device may spot early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Past studies have linked a consistent daily activity pattern to better cognition, mental health, and overall improved health in older adults.
The study involved 82 cognitively healthy older adults who wore a wristwatch-like device called an actigraph to monitor their daily activity patterns. Researchers analyzed the data collected by the actigraph devices and found significant differences between participants with detectable amounts of the protein beta-amyloid in the brain (a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease) and those without it. Participants in the “amyloid-positive” group showed higher average activity during certain times of the day and less variability in their activity patterns throughout the day, compared to the “amyloid-negative” group.
Dr. Adam Spira, lead author of the study, explained that the results are noteworthy as they showed differences in activity patterns related to the presence of beta-amyloid in cognitively normal individuals. While the study used a scientific-based wristwatch-type device, the potential for mainstream fitness trackers like Fitbit and Garmin to detect early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease is still uncertain. Dr. Spira cautioned against interpreting data from personal devices as a sign of having beta-amyloid in the brain, stating that further research is needed to support these findings.
Dr. Clifford Segil, a neurologist, raised questions about the study’s relevance to Alzheimer’s disease as he views the condition primarily as a memory loss disorder rather than a movement disorder. Dr. Jennifer Bramen, a senior research scientist, also expressed skepticism about using wrist-worn devices for Alzheimer’s disease detection, citing the potential for inaccurate results and unnecessary distress for users. She suggested exploring similar research on individuals with sleep disorders to assess the technology’s potential in detecting conditions like sleep apnea, a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, further research is needed to determine the effectiveness and accuracy of using wearable devices for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
