Wearables, i.e. wearable technologies such as smartwatches, fitness trackers or smart clothing, have become increasingly important in recent years. They continuously record health and fitness data, such as heart rate, sleep patterns, stress levels, and physical activity. But these devices not only provide insight into the current state of health, but also promote a healthier lifestyle in the long term, which in turn can contribute to longevity.

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What counts as wearables?

Wearables are electronic devices that are worn on the body and measure various physiological parameters. The most common devices include:

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• ‍Fitness tracker: Measure steps, calorie consumption, and activity levels.

• ‍Smartwatches: In addition to fitness tracking, they also offer functions such as heart rate measurement, sleep analysis and notifications.

• ‍Smart clothes: Integrated sensors monitor posture, muscle activity or vital signs.

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These devices often sync the collected data with apps to provide users with detailed analyses and personalized recommendations.

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Can wearables promote longevity?

Wearables support health and can therefore contribute to longevity by addressing the key areas of lifestyle medicine:

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• ‍Sleep and recovery: Devices such as the Oura Ring or the Apple Watch analyze sleep phases and quality. A study in Journal of Medical Internet Research showed that wearable users improved their sleeping habits, which led to better overall health.

• ‍Stress management: By measuring the Heart rate variability (HRV) wearables can identify stress levels. An investigation in the magazine Health Affairs found that wearable users developed an increased awareness of their stress triggers and implemented effective coping strategies.

• ‍Physical activity: Activity trackers motivate you to move more. A meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials found that the use of wearables led to a significant reduction in body weight and body mass index (BMI), particularly among overweight people or those with chronic conditions.

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Case studies

Monitor heart health: A 76-year-old man from Hong Kong noticed an unusually high heart rate thanks to his smartwatch. Although he felt healthy, he went to see a doctor and discovered serious blockages in his arteries that might have gone undetected without the watch's warning.

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Weight management: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials showed that the use of wearables aimed at increasing physical activity resulted in significant reductions in body weight and waist circumference.

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Challenges and outlook

Despite the numerous benefits, there are also challenges when integrating wearables into everyday life:

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• ‍Data protection: The continuous collection of sensitive health data requires strict data protection measures to ensure user privacy.

• Data accuracy: Not all wearables provide medically accurate data. It is important to know the limits of the devices and not to regard them as a substitute for professional medical advice.

• ‍User acceptance: Technical barriers can make it difficult to use wearables, particularly among older people. Devices should therefore be designed to be user-friendly and respond to the needs of this target group.

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Wearables could play an even more central role in healthcare in the future. While they are used today primarily for self-improvement, they also have the potential to become more important in preventive medicine. In this way, personalized health data could help doctors identify risks at an early stage and develop individual therapeutic approaches.

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The combination of wearables with artificial intelligence is also promising. Algorithms could continuously analyze patterns in health data and provide personalized recommendations — for example for better sleep, more effective training or optimized stress management.

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Despite all the benefits, there are also challenges: In addition to data protection, the interpretation of the collected data is another critical issue. Not every measurement is medically reliable, and too much health data can also lead to unnecessary concern.

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Ultimately, the biggest benefit of wearables lies in their ability to raise awareness of one's own body and promote long-term behavioral change — a decisive factor for healthy aging.