New results from the PPMI Data Modeling Core reveal the power of digital health technologies to remotely detect motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease Brain research and advocacy non-profit Cohen Veterans Bioscience (CVB) announces the publication of results from its digital health research program analyzing data from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) to detect the presence or absence of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is one of the most common and fastest growing neurological disorders that results in a progressive decline in both motor and non-motor (e.g., cognition and mood) symptoms. Since there are currently no objective biomarkers in PD, diagnosis is complicated and typically involves clinically administered subjective questionnaires to assess severity of symptoms, potentially leading to symptoms being undetected or misclassified. Sensor technology has shown promise in aiding in detection and classification of diseases like PD but have very limited validation in real-world settings. As part of the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) study cohort, investigators collected data passively and continuously using the Verily Study Watch in a subject's natural environment.

Grip strength, as well as walking speed and gait length, can be indicators of a person's physical and mental health. A variety of conditions and treatments can be monitored from the grip strength, but such measurements are typically only performed infrequently at the doctor's office. IBM Research has just developed a sensor that is attached to a fingernail on the index finger, that can measure the finger's motion and from that figure out the grip strength. The engineers were originally motivated to create a device that can help with monitoring of Parkinson's patients, as changes in a medication regimen should normally be accounted by changes in symptoms. Since most Parkinson's sufferers are older folks, skin-based sensors can be not as accurate and may lead to unwanted infections, but the fingernail is safer in this respect and provide a great deal of information about a person's daily activities.