Wearable Devices in Dementia Monitoring: A Systematic Review of Technologies, Design, and Future Directions
Keywords:
Dementia, Wearables, Requirements, Design, Medical Devices, Healthcare, MonitoringAbstract
INTRODUCTION: Dementia affects over 55 million people worldwide, impacting patient autonomy and increasing caregiver burden. Wearable technology offers new possibilities for monitoring and intervention. However, existing solutions often lack usability, adaptability, and caregiver integration. This study focuses on ear-based wearable devices, such as hearing aids and smart earphones, assessing their role in dementia care.
OBJECTIVES: This research aims to review wearable technologies for dementia monitoring, identify key user requirements, and define guidelines for future device development.
METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect, focusing on studies from 2020-2025. Relevant articles were analysed to identify technological advancements, design considerations, and gaps in existing research.
RESULTS: Findings show that ear-based wearables effectively track physiological and behavioural data. Non-invasiveness, usability, and real-time data transmission are key factors. Despite advancements, gaps remain in device adaptability, user experience, and security. A set of physical, emotional, and cognitive requirements was established to guide future development.
CONCLUSION: Wearable technology can transform dementia care, but improvements in ergonomics, AI-driven analytics, and caregiver integration are needed. Future research should focus on secure data transmission and clinical validation to ensure real-world effectiveness.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ana Freitas, José Soares, Marcelo Arantes, Inês Rocha, Mariana Carvalho, Marta Pinto, Demétrio Matos, Pedro Morais, Vìtor Carvalho
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Grant numbers UIDB/05549/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/05549/2020), UIDP/05549/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/05549/2020, CEECINST/00039/2021 and LASI-LA/P/0104/2020
