Apple has teamed up with Brigham and Women’s Hospital to kick off the Apple Health Study. This initiative will gather data from Apple devices to better understand and manage both physical and mental health.
The study aims to explore how different health aspects interact. For example, researchers will look at how exercise influences sleep and how mental health impacts heart rate.
Dr. Calum MacRae, a cardiologist involved in the study, shared his excitement. He noted that this project breaks down barriers between various health systems. It recognizes that all parts of our health are interconnected, responding and changing together based on our lifestyles and environments.
Apple devices, like the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, along with third-party gadgets, will be used to collect data. The study will cover a wide range of health topics, including:
- Physical activity
- Menstrual health
- Cognitive function
- Heart and circulatory health
- Aging
- Metabolic health
- Mobility
- Respiratory health
- Hearing
- Sleep
- Mental health
This information will help researchers quantify activities and understand their relationships with other health metrics. Apple’s platform allows for flexible data collection, which means they can adapt and refine the study as they go.
Dr. MacRae emphasized their goal to provide participants with quick feedback. They want to use initial signals from data to guide their research, aiming to share insights on specific health aspects within just a few months.
Importantly, participant data is secured through tokenization, ensuring privacy. Dr. MacRae assured that individuals will always own their information, and safety remains a top priority.
This study is set for five years, but there’s potential for it to continue beyond that. Residents in the U.S. can sign up through the Apple Research app available on the App Store.
Apple has previously worked alongside Brigham and Women’s Hospital on other studies, such as the Apple Heart and Movement Study, which looks at the link between physical activity and heart health. They’ve also conducted the Women’s Health Study with Harvard, focusing on menstrual cycles and health conditions, and the Apple Hearing Study with the University of Michigan, which examines the impact of noise exposure on hearing.
