AAN issues guidance on the use of wearable devices

Article examines smart watches, fitness trackers and more for neurological care

2026-03-11

(Press-News.org) EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4:00 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2026

AAN issues guidance on the use of wearable devices
Article examines smart watches, fitness trackers and more for neurological care

Highlights:

The AAN has issued new guidance on wearable devices and digital apps as potential tools in neurological care, focusing on non-FDA cleared technology. Wearables can monitor physical activity, sleep, heart rate and other health factors. Some can detect conditions like atrial fibrillation. Others can monitor disease-specific symptoms like seizures and headaches. This guidance for neurologists says the technology has great potential to help with disease management and provide more complete data for people with neurological diseases and disorders. Limitations include potential for inaccurate readings and unintended effects like increased anxiety. Further research is needed to improve the accuracy and reliability of wearable technology, and to explore its role in developing personalized therapies for neurological conditions. MINNEAPOLIS — Wearable devices and digital apps that are available to consumers are emerging as potential tools in neurological care. These include smart watches and fitness trackers to monitor heart rate, physical activity, sleep and other health factors. To provide neurologists with guidance on the use, limitations and evidence on non-U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared wearable technology, the American Academy of Neurology has developed an Emerging Issues in Neurology article published March 11, 2026, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Emerging Issues in Neurology articles are designed to provide timely and informal guidance derived from expert consensus to neurologists about new or emerging issues that have immediate implications for patient care, but for which the formal evidence base is still evolving.

“Wearable technology has grown in popularity with some people using devices to share health data with their physicians,” said author Sarah M. Benish, MD, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “While these consumer devices may provide useful data for neurological conditions, some important issues remain like making sure people are using them for the appropriate amount of time and have an understanding of their limitations such as producing falsely alarming or falsely reassuring results. Such devices may also have unintended effects like increased anxiety.”

The article provides examples of wearable devices being used or considered for neurological care. It examines only non-FDA cleared wearable technology, and not devices authorized by the FDA.

For heart rate and cardiac arrhythmia, the article says smart watches and smart electrocardiogram devices can serve as screening tools to help detect conditions like atrial fibrillation which is linked to an increased risk of stroke, but additional medical testing may be needed to confirm diagnosis. When waiting for confirmation, physicians should consider providing treatment to prevent harm. It also says for some people, alerts from wearable devices may cause anxiety.

For epilepsy, it says wearable devices and digital apps can be helpful in disease management including detecting seizures, understanding seizure impact and identifying triggers. Preliminary studies have shown that using a fitness tracker with an electronic seizure diary improves the accuracy of forecasting seizures. The authors say with further research, wearable technology may lead to personalized therapies.

For headache management, some studies have suggested that wearable devices that provide biofeedback may help. These devices use sensors to monitor muscle tension, heart rate and skin temperature to help a person control stress to reduce headache. Wearables that use actigraphy to monitor rest and activity cycles have been used to better understand everyday movements of people with headache, showing trends such as increased sleep and reduced activity during headache episodes. However, ongoing challenges continue with the completeness of data and consistent use of the devices.

For monitoring sleep, the article says wearable devices have advanced rapidly with wristbands, rings and headbands that use a wide range of technologies to assess sleep duration and sleep stages. Limitations include that physicians may not have access to all the sleep data. Despite challenges, the authors see broader use of wearables since they are more affordable and can monitor a person’s sleep at home.

“The landscape for wearable devices that provide health screenings, monitoring, and even treatments is rapidly changing and therefore hard for physicians to know each individual device,” said Benish. “This technology has great potential to provide more complete data for each person, allowing for greater insights into their health and possible identification of triggers to allow for a more individualized and successful treatment plan.”

Benish said other limitations of the devices include data privacy concerns, cost-related disparities in care and potential for inappropriate diagnosis. Physicians should review wearable data when presented by patients and be able to discuss limitations or risks of use. Further understanding and validation of these devices is needed before they can be used fully in neurological care.

Discover more about brain health at Brain & Life®, from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world’s leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice in brain health. As the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with 44,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN’s mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.

Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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AAN issues guidance on the use of wearable devices

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