Medial research firm Biogen
<https://investors.biogen.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biogen-laun
ch-pioneering-study-develop-digital-biomarkers> today announced a new
collaboration with Apple in the form of a cognitive health research study,
powered by iPhone and Apple Watch. The study is trying to identify digital
biomarkers that can serve as early indicators of illnesses like Alzheimer's.
The observational research study will commence later in the year. The
companies aim to find patterns in the data collected by sensors in the Apple
Watch and iPhone and correlate those to declines in cognitive health
function.
If successful, doctors may eventually be able to prescribe treatments
earlier in people's lives, and help reduce the debilitating effects of these
kind of mental illnesses.
In the press release, Apple COO Jeff Williams said Apple looks forward to
delivering better health outcomes through improved detection of declining
cognitive health.
"Working in collaboration with Biogen, we hope this study can help the
medical community better understand a person's cognitive performance by
simply having them engage with their Apple Watch and iPhone," said Jeff
Williams, Apple's chief operating officer. "We're looking forward to
learning about the impact our technology can have in delivering better
health outcomes through improved detection of declining cognitive health."
Biogen CEO Michel Vounatsos said that finding digital biomarkers signalling
changes in brain health will "accelerate patient diagnoses and empower
physicians and individuals to take timely action".
The virtual study will likely be rolled out through the
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-research/id1463884356> Apple Research
app. As expected, it will be conducted with privacy in mind. Participants
will be told about exactly what data is being collected upfront and can
leave the study at any time.
The Apple Research app currently features studies covering heart and
movement, women's health and hearing levels.
Apple first began working with medical institutions back in 2017 with the
first Apple Heart Study, run by Stanford researchers. The study was highly
successful with participation from more than 400,000 Apple Watch users and
led to the release of the irregular heart rate rhythm notifications as an
Apple Watch feature available to all.
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