Digital biomarkers derived from wearable sensors in neurorehabilitation: a scoping review
Shalabi et al.
The finding, in our words
Wearable-derived digital biomarkers show promise for objective monitoring in neurological rehabilitation, with inertial measurement unit systems being the most common technology and kinematic biomarkers predominating in stroke and Parkinson disease studies. Yet methodological heterogeneity and scarce longitudinal data indicate that clinical implementation is still at an early stage.
A paraphrase to the Library’s standard, never the abstract. The source is one link away and is always the authority.
Wearable-derived digital biomarkers have been accepted by regulatory agencies as endpoints in clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, showing their potential to support decentralised diagnostics through patient-centric monitoring. This matters because it enables more sensitive and continuous assessment of disease progression outside clinical settings.
Ma et al., Neurology and therapy (paywalled) · source ↗
The scoping review of 70 studies found that clinical trials for chronic cough predominantly use digital cough frequency as the primary endpoint, while real-world observational studies employ a broader variety of digital measures and patient-reported outcomes, indicating evolving approaches to decentralised assessment.
This review assesses wearable sensors for the continuous biochemical monitoring of body fluids such as sweat, saliva and interstitial fluid, confirming their potential for decentralised healthcare through pilot trials. It emphasises that successful clinical translation depends on large-scale validation and the integration of ethical and sociocultural considerations.
Merck describes a digitally enabled, patient-centric trial initiative that combines outpatient PK/PD sampling with digital biomarkers and smart dosing technologies to improve exposure-response understanding and reduce patient burden, while acknowledging adoption challenges.
Dockendorf et al., Clinical and translational science · source ↗
A direct-to-participant, multichannel recruitment strategy enrolled 34,244 older adults into a virtual trial testing an Apple Watch based heart health programme with electrocardiogram and irregular rhythm notification features, achieving broad geographic and gender diversity but under-representing non-White ethnic groups.