Apple Launches Study to Explore How Technology Can Detect Changes in Health

According to Apple, a new health research has begun that will try to determine how technology—specifically, iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods—can “play a role in advancing and improving physical health, mental health, and overall wellbeing.”

Participants who reside in the United States and fulfill the minimum age requirements can now access the study through Apple’s Research app. The study will additionally “explore relationships between various areas of health, such as mental health’s impact on heart rate, or how sleep can influence exercise” . Leading research institution Brigham and Women’s institution, a “major teaching affiliate” of Harvard Medical School, is collaborating on the study.

Apple claims that because your body may “emit a signal, either physically or emotionally,” when such changes occur, the study wants to explore how technology might help detect health changes in individuals. “A more proactive approach to health” can be achieved by assisting in the early detection of such changes, as some may affect general wellbeing while others may affect one or more body parts. For instance, “early detection of a change in hearing health could reduce the risk for cognitive decline” .

With over 350,000 participants nationwide, the Apple Women’s Health Study, Apple Hearing Study, and Apple Heart and Movement Study collectively provide insights that this study builds upon.

Understanding how data from Apple devices can be utilized to forecast, track, and manage changes in participants’ health is the goal of the new longitudinal virtual study. Additionally, researchers will investigate links between several health domains. Activity, aging, cardiovascular and circulatory health, hearing, menstruation, mental health, metabolic health, mobility, neurologic health, respiratory health, and sleep will all be covered in the study.