Twelve-month pilot study on wearables to enhance health and quality of life in older adults

Purpose Engagement in physical and social activities is crucial for successful aging. Methods This study evaluates fall probability, quality of life and cognitive status following 12-month intervention. The intervention consisted in a monitoring scenario in which older adults were equipped with a smartwatch to track step count and home sensors to measure micro-environmental parameters. We evaluated the intervention overall and regrouped based on participants’ daily step count: low (< 4500 steps/day) and high (≥ 4500 steps/day). Results The intervention had an increase in Tinetti Balance Assessment scores indicating a reduced fall probability. The low steps group benefited the most, suggesting that even light activities positively impacted balance and mobility. Quality of life significantly improved after 6 months, particularly in the high steps group. Cognition measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination improved in the high steps group compared to the low steps and the control group. Conclusions Providing wearable technology can promote physical activity and positively influence overall health, even in older individuals with low activity levels. This real-world approach without external enforcement highlights the potential for simple technological interventions to promote active aging.