A recent study revealed a new approach to monitoring the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) using everyday wearable technology. 

The study, conducted by researchers from ETH Zurich, University Hospital Zurich, and the University of Zurich, demonstrates the potential of fitness trackers and smartphones to provide accurate, long-term data on MS patients' health parameters.

The Threat of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a serious disease characterized by the immune system's attack on nerve fibers, resulting in various impairments in motor function and sensory perception. Patients often face challenges in accurately describing their symptoms to physicians, leading to incomplete or inaccurate data collection during traditional clinical assessments.

Lead author of the study, Shkurta Gashi, emphasized the need for more reliable methods of monitoring MS progression, stating, "Physicians would benefit from having access to reliable, frequent and long-term measurements of patients' health parameters that give an accurate and comprehensive view of their state of health."

(Photo : KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

A staff nurse from Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Hospital checks a patient in Paramus, New Jersey, on October 26, 2023. 

How Fitness Trackers Help Multiple Sclerosis Patients

The study, published in the journal npj Digital Medicine, recruited 55 MS patients and 24 control subjects. Each participant was equipped with a fitness tracking armband and their smartphone was utilized to collect data over a two-week period. 

Analysis of the gathered data focused on physical activity, heart rate variability, smartphone usage patterns, and motor function.

Results from the study revealed significant correlations between certain parameters and disease severity. Participants with higher levels of disease severity and fatigue exhibited lower physical activity and heart rate variability. 

Moreover, MS patients demonstrated reduced daily step counts and overall physical activity compared to the control group.

Remarkably, smartphone usage patterns also provided valuable insights into disease severity and fatigue levels. Participants who used their phones less frequently showed greater disability and more severe fatigue. 

Additionally, a smartphone-based motor function test, developed at ETH Zurich, offered a novel way to assess motor skills and physical fatigue in MS patients.

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Accurate Data Tracking

Gashi highlighted the importance of combining data from fitness trackers and smartphones, stating, "Altogether, the combination of data from the fitness tracker and smartphone lets us distinguish between healthy participants and those with MS with a high degree of accuracy."

The implications of this study are significant for both MS patients and healthcare professionals. By enabling MS patients to collect reliable, clinically useful data in their daily lives, this approach could lead to improved treatments and more effective disease management techniques.

Furthermore, the researchers have made their dataset available to other scientists, emphasizing the importance of further research and data collection to develop reliable models for automatic evaluation.

In the broader context, multiple sclerosis affects over 1.8 million people worldwide, with a higher prevalence in young adults and females. Early treatment with medicines can stabilize or improve MS, but treatments vary depending on disease severity and symptoms.

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