Biogen, a medtech company based in Massachusetts, has announced that is partnering with Apple in a research study to determine if it is possible to identify and develop biomarkers of cognitive decline, using data from smart devices, including the iPhone and Apple Watch.
Biogen has a neuroscience focus, and the company hopes that it may be possible to identify the early signs of mild cognitive impairment, which is an early indicator of some forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The study, which launches later this year, will run over several years and Biogen will recruit participants of different ages and cognitive abilities.
The signs of mild cognitive impairment can often be subtle, but identifying them early could mean that someone can take steps to slow or halt progression, potentially leading to better outcomes in the long run. Using smart devices data to monitor this is an intriguing idea, and it will be interesting to see the results of the study.
Conservative estimates show that Alzheimer’s directly affects over 5 million Americans as well as millions of family members and loved ones who act as caregivers. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2020 Alzheimer’s and other dementias may have cost the nation $305 billion, including $206 billion in Medicare and Medicaid payments. Part of this cost is due to the fact that older people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias need more skilled nursing facility stays and home health care visits per year than other older people.
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