The research was supervised by CEPID BRAINN´s researchers, Dr. Rickson Mesquita and Dr. Gabriela Castellano. Check out the report from HC Unicamp.
Originally published on the HC Unicamp website
The physicist Caetano Ternes Coimbra developed an algorithm capable of quantifying movements captured by a smartwatch sensor to assist in analyzing tremors and defining medication dosage therapy. The research is part of a project under the Hub of Artificial Intelligence Applied to Health and Well-being – Viva Bem and is the result of his master’s dissertation defended at the Gleb Wataghin Physics Institute (IFGW) at Unicamp.
Tests for using smartwatches to monitor health and well-being were conducted on patients treated at the Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders clinic of the Neurology Department at the Clinics Hospital (HC) of Unicamp. The research was supervised by Rickson Coelho Mesquita, with co-supervision by Gabriela Castellano. Laura Silveira Moriyama led the HC Unicamp medical team involved in the research.
“Our goal was to measure tremors using a commercially available smartwatch for everyday use in different applications. Based on the existing literature, we already knew that we could measure movement to some extent. However, the challenge was to measure it accurately using the watch’s sensor and all the technology involved, capable of detecting information such as arm movement,” explains Coimbra, who completed his undergraduate studies at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), having studied particle physics, “a completely different field.”
Beyond data collection, Coimbra aimed to create a deterministic algorithm to understand under what conditions the tremor occurred. The goal is not to diagnose using a smartwatch, especially since it is a multifactorial disease. The primary contribution of the watch is to provide support for treatment adjustments. The patient takes the watch home, which continuously and automatically measures tremors, recording when they improved or worsened.
Multidisciplinary Research
The coordinator of the Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders service at HC and neurology professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) of the university, Laura Silveira Moriyama, led the medical team involved in the research, stating it represents a significant contribution to treating movement disorders.
“There are various types of neurological problems that affect how a person moves, speaks, swallows, or uses their hands. With the advancement of research, we increasingly see interdisciplinary collaboration from fields such as engineering, physics, and computing. In this project, the researcher collected objective measurements of tremors and patient movement difficulties. As doctors, we observe the tremor visually. He, as a physicist, examines its frequency and amplitude,” said Moriyama.
According to the neurologist, patients often are unsure if their condition has improved after taking medication. “We tried to find ways to measure this objectively. The sensor gives us more objective information.” Coimbra’s protocol involves two types of devices: electromyography (which measures muscle activation responsible for the tremor) and an accelerometer-equipped watch (which measures the acceleration of the body’s movement in that area).
“We used it on the wrist because Parkinson’s tremors significantly affect the arms, but it could be applied to other body parts such as legs, torso, and head. This type of sensor helps us track disease progression.” According to the doctor, the visual representation created by Coimbra also helps patients understand their medical condition better.
“The sensor provides reassurance for both the patient and the doctor. It’s not feasible to send a clinician to the patient’s home, but it’s like they’re taking a piece of our team with them.”
The Algorithm
Coimbra developed a classical algorithm using Fourier analysis to extract the physically relevant characteristics of the tremor (an oscillatory signal, moving back and forth) – its amplitude, frequency, and frequency variation. “The algorithm has the potential to be applied to other symptoms, such as movement slowness, in addition to tremors. Measuring tremors is more than diagnosing a pathology. Everyone has a physiological tremor because many factors can cause tremors, such as anxiety during a job interview or caffeine intake. Thus, measuring tremors is a broad concept and not a new idea,” said the researcher.
View the article on the HC Unicamp website
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