Can wearables actually monitor mind well being? neurologists warn in opposition to overpromising devices – Firstpost

As wearable units powered by synthetic intelligence more and more declare to supply insights into mind well being, neurologists warn that client devices nonetheless fall far in need of diagnosing or immediately monitoring neurological ailments. While smartwatches, rings and sensor-based units can monitor sure physique alerts, consultants warn that whereas these units are glorious for wellness monitoring, there’s a harmful hole between “consumer hype” and “clinical reality.”

Brain well being vs. client wearables: Understanding the bounds

Dr. Mohan Krishna, Consultant Neurologist at Yashoda Hospitals (Hyderabad) emphasised that mind well being is way extra complicated than what client wearables can presently seize. Devices that declare to observe mind blood circulation or “brain activity” have very restricted medical that means, he mentioned.

“Cerebral blood flow is tightly regulated by the brain itself and does not directly reflect ageing, mood, intelligence or thought processes. Monitoring blood flow alone, he says, is not the same as monitoring brain function.”

According to Dr Krishna, in the present day’s wearables can not detect neurological problems. “At best, they offer indirect wellness signals by tracking parameters such as heart rate, breathing patterns, or sleep. These changes reflect how the body responds, not what is happening inside the brain. In contrast, medical tests such as MRI and CT scans reveal brain structure, while EEG and advanced imaging like PET scans assess brain function. These tests are validated, sophisticated, and cannot be replaced by wearable devices.”

There are, nonetheless, a number of slender areas the place wearables present restricted potential. Dr Krishna identified that in some epilepsy sufferers, adjustments in coronary heart price, sweating or bodily sensations that happen earlier than a seizure might typically be detected and used as alerts. Research can be ongoing in migraine, the place early bodily alerts might assist determine patterns. However, these purposes are specialised and never supposed for the final inhabitants.

Separating medical reliability from experimental hype

Dr. Sorabh Gupta, Consultant Neurologist at Kailash Hospital (Dehradun) careworn the significance of separating medically dependable makes use of of wearables from experimental expertise and hype. He mentioned that sure units together with wristbands and sensor-based instruments, can reliably monitor sleep patterns and levels, coronary heart price variability, stress ranges, tremors, motion and gait. Such information will help clinicians perceive long-term tendencies in sleep effectivity, stress response or motion adjustments however they don’t seem to be diagnostic instruments and can’t independently diagnose neurological ailments.

Some rising applied sciences reminiscent of head-mounted EEG units are nonetheless experimental, Dr. Gupta mentioned, including that whereas they’re being researched and should maintain future promise, their sign high quality stays inferior to plain medical EEG and they don’t seem to be medically validated.

Dr. Gupta additionally warned in opposition to exaggerated claims. “There is no smartwatch, headband, eye-mounted, ear-mounted or AI-based wearable that can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease or other brain disorders. Wearables cannot measure brain structure, deep brain function, anatomy, cognition, intelligence, or thought processes, nor can they replace clinical examination, MRI or CT scans, or medical-grade EEG testing. Their most meaningful role, he says, lies in tracking trends and supporting follow-up, particularly for sleep, stress, heart rate variability, and movement disorders.”

Dr. Bipan Sharma, Consultant Neurologist, Kailash Deepak Hospital (New Delhi) acknowledged that we live in an period of wearable units powered by AI. “These devices are not only a fashion statement but also help in assessing certain health parameters. Commonly used wearables include smartwatches, wristbands, headbands, earbuds, smart rings, continuous glucose monitoring devices, and infusion pumps.”

On the query of whether or not these units can actually assist in detecting mind issues, Dr. Sharma mentioned the reply is each “yes and no.” Yes, these units will help in detecting sure mind issues as they constantly monitor real-world information that might be troublesome to seize throughout routine medical neurologist visits and even throughout testing, he added.

“Commonly, these devices measure variation in heart rate, oxygen saturation level, sleep quality and abnormal body movements like tremors and seizure activity. Changes in these parameters can provide a clue to underlying issues. However, they cannot replace clinical evaluation, EEG, and brain scans. They are best used as a warning tool and not as a diagnostic tool.” Dr. Sharma suggested that if these units present some uncommon or irregular exercise, one of the best plan of action is to not panic however to seek the advice of a neurologist.

Experts additionally warn that over-reliance on wearables can create pointless nervousness. Dr Krishna mentioned that standard variations in sleep, stress and day by day efficiency are frequent and fixed monitoring could make wholesome people really feel unwell. “Symptoms such as speech difficulty, weakness, loss of consciousness, severe headaches or problems that interfere with daily life require direct medical assessment. Not every sensation needs tracking, and not every person needs continuous monitoring.”

The consensus amongst neurologists is evident: whereas wearables will help monitor tendencies and help long-term remark, claims that they will diagnose mind ailments or substitute medical testing will not be scientifically confirmed. For mind well being considerations, skilled analysis and validated medical investigations stay important.