In today’s world, most people use smartphones and smartwatches every day, and scientists are now using these devices to better understand how our brains age. A recent study, called Intuition, involved over 23,000 adults across the United States who used their iPhones and Apple Watches to share information about their daily routines and complete cognitive tests. This large and diverse group helped researchers learn how brain health changes over time, especially for people at risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of memory and thinking problems that could lead to dementia.
What makes this study special is that it allowed people to participate from home, without needing to visit a clinic. They simply used an app that collected both passive data (like movement and sleep from the watch) and active data (like short cognitive games). This approach helps include people who may not usually join traditional studies, like those from rural areas or lower-income communities.
The researchers found that this remote way of studying brain health is not only convenient but also reliable. They built models that could accurately detect who was at risk for MCI, based on a mix of behavior, device data, and short quizzes. Early detection is key, because it gives people a chance to make changes that can protect their brain health.
This research shows how common technology can be turned into powerful tools for healthcare. It offers a new, accessible way to monitor brain function, helping doctors and individuals stay ahead of cognitive decline.
Reference:
Butler, P. M., et al. (2025). Smartwatch- and smartphone-based remote assessment of brain health and detection of mild cognitive impairment. Nature Medicine, 31, 829–839. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03475-9
Serra Húnter Fellow of Sociology at Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
Former DAAD-Gastprofessorin at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg