Wearable Devices Expected to Screen for Parkinson Disease

Smartphones, smartwatches, and other wearable devices are anticipated to help in the detection of Parkinson disease in the future, according to a systematic review published in Life.

“Clinicians who are not usually engaged in tremor diagnosis could find these devices especially useful to enhance their diagnostic accuracy. However, they are not perfect and should be used as an adjunct to clinical evaluation at this time,” advised a research team from Tokushima University in Japan.

The systematic narrative literature review covered 86 articles on the recent progress and efficacy of mechanical devices for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson disease.

With recent technologic advances and smaller, less expensive sensors, device-based diagnosis of Parkinson disease has become more realistic, according to the review. Additionally, machine learning has shown a high degree of accuracy in both distinguishing between people with, and without, Parkinson disease, as well as distinguishing between Parkinsonian tremors and essential tremors. 

For the suppression of tremors, adaptive deep brain stimulation (DBS) and the optimization of stimulation parameters are being studied as a means to improve treatment efficacy. Aside from DBS, other mechanical devices for tremor suppression in the experimental stage include electrical muscle stimulation and orthoses, researchers reported. Nevertheless, DBS remains the standard of care.

“There has been remarkable progress in alleviating tremors using DBS,” the authors wrote. “In recent years, advanced information technologies, such as machine learning, have substantially improved. This could further increase the potential of DBS in managing movement disorders.”

Reference:
Fujikawa J, Morigaki R, Yamamoto N, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of tremor in Parkinson’s disease using mechanical devices. Life. Published online December 27, 2022. doi:10.3390/life13010078