Digital and Wearable Technology in Therapeutic Monitoring of Parkinson's Disease in Under-Resourced Settings

Abstract

Parkinson's disease has been described as a neurodegenerative disease characterized by non-motor and motor symptoms that impact negatively on individual's lifestyle. Due to the nature of this condition, it requires constant monitoring to evaluate the progress of treatment, clinical assessment and therapeutic interventions. Consequently, wearable and digital technologies are emerging advances in artificial intelligence that are now recently being mobilized to provide real-time, promising solutions, personalized intervention and objective data collection for neurodegenerative diseases. These technologies are very specific and highly sensitive in tracking non-motor and motor variations, tremors and gait abnormalities. Furthermore, many of these devices are able to provide feedback mechanisms, cognitive impairment, sleep/autonomic and gastrointestinal comorbidities. The aim of the book chapter is to give an overview on the recent advances in the novel application of digital and wearable technology in the therapeutic monitoring of Parkinson's disease.