Apple has been paying close attention to its Health and Fitness category in recent years, and the company is not planning to slow down anytime soon. Apple has previously collaborated with researchers on various issues, including hearing loss, sleep tracking, and more. It is now conducting another study that will measure overall health issues with its new Apple Health Study in collaboration with the Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Apple announces new Health Study, describing it as a "new longitudinal, virtual study"
Apple tends to reap the results of the study and implement it in its products and services, which means that in the near future, the company will add additional health-related features to the Apple Watch and its AirPods lineup. Professor of Medicine, cardiologist, and principal investigator of the Apple Health Study Calum MacRae states, "We've only just begun to scratch the surface of how technology can improve our understanding of human health."
"We are excited to be part of the Apple Health Study, as it will continue to explore connections across different areas of health using technology that so many people carry with them every day."
MacRae states that the new program will detail how health data collected through various metrics, whether from Apple devices or others, can be better used. The company believes the data can be used "to predict, detect, monitor and manage changes in participants' health." The Apple Health Study will potentially develop connections between different metrics, which can be used for diagnosing different issues. At this stage, the Apple Study is restricted to residents in the United States who can apply to be part of the program through the Research app.
The study will research health metrics covering the following areas:
- Sleep
- Respiratory health
- Mobility
- Neurological health
- Metabolism health
- Mental health
- Menstrual health
- Hearing
- Cognitive health
- Circulatory health
- Cardiovascular health
- Aging
Apple's vice president of Health states, "Research and validation are part of the foundation of all of our work in health, supporting the innovative features we bring to our users across devices."
"The valuable insights we've gained since launching the Research app have allowed us to bring innovative new tools to our users — including the Vitals app on Apple Watch and Walking Steadiness on iPhone — and surface new insights in areas of health that have long been undervalued, like menstrual and hearing health."
"We're thrilled to bring forward the Apple Health Study, which will only accelerate our understanding of health and technology across the human body, both physically and mentally."
It remains to be seen when Apple's Health Study will bear fruit, but based on the company's plans and current directive toward its products, we might see an end result soon. Apple recently announced the new Beats PowerBeats Pro 2 earbuds with heart rate monitoring, and the feature is also slated to debut with the company's forthcoming AirPods.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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