Recommendations Published by the AAN on the Use of Consumer Wearables in Neurologic Care
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The AAN released guidance on the use of non–FDA-cleared wearable devices and digital apps in neurologic care.
- Wearables may support monitoring of conditions such as epilepsy, headache, sleep disorders, and stroke risk but require careful interpretation.
- Limitations include variable accuracy, incomplete data access, and potential unintended effects such as patient anxiety.
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued guidance on the use of consumer wearable devices and digital health applications as emerging tools in neurologic care, highlighting both their potential clinical utility and current limitations. The recommendations were published as an “Emerging Issues in Neurology” article in the journal Neurology, and they focus specifically on non-Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–cleared technologies.
Wearable devices—including smartwatches, fitness trackers, and biosensor-enabled accessories—are increasingly used to monitor physiologic parameters such as heart rate, physical activity, and sleep. According to a statement from the AAN, these tools may provide neurologists with more continuous and real-world data to inform disease management, although their role in clinical decision-making remains under development.
The published guidance outlines several potential applications across neurologic conditions.
- In cardiovascular monitoring, wearable electrocardiogram–enabled devices may help identify arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, a known risk factor for stroke, though confirmatory testing is required.
- In epilepsy, wearable sensors and digital seizure diaries may improve detection and forecasting of seizure activity.
- For headache disorders, biofeedback-enabled devices and actigraphy-based monitoring may offer insight into triggers and symptom patterns.
- Wearables are also increasingly used to assess sleep duration and quality outside of clinical settings.
However, the AAN emphasizes important limitations. Data accuracy may vary across devices, and incomplete access to raw data may hinder clinical interpretation. Additionally, device alerts may lead to false reassurance or unnecessary anxiety, and disparities in access and cost remain concerns.
The authors recommend that clinicians be prepared to review wearable-derived data with patients and discuss appropriate use and limitations. Further research is needed to validate these technologies and define their role in personalized neurologic care.
Source
AAN. AAN issues guidance on the use of wearable devices. Published March 11, 2026. Accessed April 14, 2026. https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5326