Rune Labs receiving clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use Apple Watch to track symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is exciting news for patients, as doctors can combine data to better personalize treatment for individual patients, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Rebecca Wu, Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “This is a prime example of how science is a collective effort and could prompt companies to collaborate more frequently to help make healthcare more accurate, efficient, and accessible for patients. Moreover, it goes to show how even smart devices such as Apple Watches and Fitbit are not only good tools to track your fitness but can also be utilized in the healthcare industry.”

In its 2020 report, ‘Wearable Technology in Healthcare (2020) – Thematic Research’, GlobalData noted that we are in the middle of a period of technological advancement when it comes to the healthcare industry. Wearables has been growing significantly within this market over the past several years, having the potential to address spiralling healthcare costs, aging populations, and the burden of chronic disease. In GlobalData’s 2020 report, the company expected the wearables market to grow to $64 billion by 2024*.

Rune Labs’ FDA clearance is the first prominent use of the Apple motion detection tool, which was released for measuring movement disorders in 2018. It adds to the existing partnerships that Apple has made with other companies to use its Apple Watch as a health-monitoring device, including a deal with Johnson & Johnson examining whether it can be used to help lower stroke risk. Rune Labs’ software will also use the Apple Watch’s built-in motion sensors to help detect when a person falls.

Wu adds: “It is a significant development and will help many patients to better manage their symptoms. Clinicians may only know about the symptoms that are self-reported by patients or their caretakers and from what they observe during appointment times, which may not provide a holistic or continuous view on the patient’s symptoms and disease progression.

“However, older generations may have difficulties adjusting to the use of newer technologies. As Parkinson’s is prevalent in the older adult population, it is important for companies and their healthcare teams to make these devices accessible and easy to use for this population. Nonetheless, it is an exciting development for both patients and clinicians.”

* GlobalData will be updating its Wearables reports and forecasts in H2 2022