Apple Health Studies
A new comprehensive Apple Health Studies is available in the Research app.
Apple launched the Apple Health Study today to explore how Apple iPhone, Apple Watches, and AirPods promote mental, physical, and general health. The study will also examine how sleep and mental health affect heart rate and activity. It is accessible through the Research app. The study is being carried out in association with Brigham and Women’s facility, a prominent teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a top research facility.
As a cardiologist, Harvard Medical School Professor of Medicine, and primary investigator of the Apple Health Study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Calum MacRae, M.D., Ph.D., stated, “Its have only just begun to scratch the surface of how technology can improve Apple understanding of human health.” “We are thrilled to be involved with the Apple Health Studies, which will continue to investigate links between various health domains through the use of technology that so many people use on a daily basis.”
The number of participants that can be recruited, the amount of data that can be collected, and the length of a particular study are frequently the limits on medical research discoveries; however, Apple devices increase the possibilities. The Apple Health Study expands on findings from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, the Apple Hearing Study, and the Apple Women’s Health Study, which together have over 350,000 participants nationwide.
In order to forecast, identify, monitor, and manage changes in participants’ health, this new longitudinal, virtual study seeks to understand how data from technology, including Apple and third-party devices. Additionally, scientists will investigate links between several health domains. The study covers a wide range of health and illness topics, such as mobility, neurologic health, respiratory health, sleep, menstrual health, cognitive function, hearing, cardiovascular and circulatory health, aging, activity, mental health, and metabolic health.
“All of work in health is built on research and validation, which supports the innovative features bring to users across devices,” stated Apple’s vice president of health, Sumbul Desai, M.D. Since releasing the Research app, they have gained valuable insights that have enabled us to provide Apple users with innovative new tools, such as the Vitals app on the Apple Watch and Walking Steadiness on the iPhone, and uncover previously underappreciated aspects of health, such as menstrual and hearing health. It is excited to introduce the Apple Health Studies, which will improve it knowledge of technology and health in the physical and mental spheres of the human body.
Examining health changes and how technology might provide valuable information for future product development are the goals of the Apple Health Study. A person’s body can send out a physical or emotional signal when one component of their health changes. Early detection of these changes can assist provide a more proactive approach to health because some health changes may impact one or more body areas, while others may impact general wellbeing. For instance, the risk of cognitive decline may be decreased if a change in hearing health is identified early.
Participants who satisfy the minimum age requirements, reside in the United States, and obtain informed consent can now join in the Apple Health Studies via the Research app.
The Research app unites healthcare companies, academic medical institutions, and the Apple products that customers currently use on a daily basis, democratizing the process of doing medical research. Participation is completely voluntary, and participants have the freedom to decide what kinds of data they want to share with researchers and to cease sharing at any moment. Participants’ contact details and other identifiable information are not accessible to Apple via the Research app. Any study participant may discontinue participation at any moment, which will stop further data collecting.
