FDA Approves Smartwatch-Based Solution to Monitor Parkinson’s Disease

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the StrivePD Ecosystem for  Parkinson’s disease monitoring through the Apple Watch.

Developed by San Francisco-based Rune Labs, the StrivePD software ecosystem collects patient-reported symptom data through measurements made by Apple Watch. Rune Labs is a data analytics company that focuses on precision neurology and developing approaches to care delivery and therapy development.

Rune Labs’ StrivePD app can help track symptoms of Parkinson’s and treatment progress as well as support clinical trial design for the nervous system disorder. StrivePD obtains data from the Apple Movement Disorder API, collecting information regarding tremors and dyskinetic symptoms.

“When people with Parkinson’s are prescribed new medications, adjusting how much to take and when to take it until they find something that works can be a lengthy process. StrivePD helps people to track their symptoms and improvements, accelerating the time to an optimal medication schedule – and with today’s clearance, more people will have access to this life-changing technology,” said Aura Oslapas, a Parkinson’s disease patient who helped create the StrivePD app, in the press release. "StrivePD on Apple Watch is the long-awaited union of quantitative and qualitative data that encourages better care and communication between patients and clinicians, while also empowering people with Parkinson's who are striving to live better every day.”

Further, as the data collected by the device is analyzed, providers and researchers will be able to make better-informed decisions regarding treatment methods, improve resolution metrics, and advance drug development, according to the press release.

Nearly 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease, with around 60,000 diagnosed each year, according to Parkinson’s Foundation. Outcomes of the disease have worsened, with one study published last year showing the nationwide death rate from Parkinson’s disease has risen about 63 percent in the last two decades.

Research has shown that using wearable devices and new technologies can help enhance care for Parkinson’s disease.

In June, a study published in npj Digital Medicine described how a remote patient monitoring method could track the progress of Parkinson’s disease through the use of a wearable smartwatch. The device is worn by patients for more than 21 hours daily and monitors non-motor and motor experiences, such as rest tremors and gait impairment.

In March 2021, researchers from the University of Florida created an artificial intelligence (AI) device to enhance Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Assisted by a $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the AI tool was trained using MRI images and could distinguish between Parkinson’s and two similar conditions. Researchers acknowledged that distinguishing between the three disorders is critical due to the role it plays in treatment choices and outcomes.