The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Apple is working on developing technology to help diagnose depression and cognitive decline. The newspaper cited sources familiar with the matter and documents it reviewed, stating that researchers are creating this new feature using a range of sensor data, including mobility, physical activity, sleep patterns, typing behavior, facial expressions, and more. According to the sources, Apple hopes to add this feature to make it unique to its devices. The report added that Apple is trying to develop this tool in collaboration with UCLA and the pharmaceutical company Biogen, following research partnerships with the University of California focused on studying stress, anxiety, and depression.
Biogen received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this summer for a new drug it developed to treat mild cognitive impairment, a health condition that can develop into Alzheimer’s disease. The three companies declined to comment on the matter, according to the newspaper. The sources told the paper that the research projects are still in their early stages and may not ultimately lead to new device features. Previous academic studies have shown some evidence that individuals with certain mental health conditions use their digital devices differently than others, “it remains to be seen whether reliable algorithms can be created to detect conditions," researchers stated.
The newspaper noted, “If this tool succeeds, Apple and its partners could improve the detection of conditions affecting tens of millions of people worldwide. However, the extent of user tracking that may be required could raise privacy concerns.”
