By Diagnostics World News Staff
August 4, 2026 | Smartwatches could one day do more than track steps, sleep, and heart rate. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) are working with Samsung to determine whether physiological data collected passively by a smartwatch can help identify early changes in cognitive function.
The collaboration between Samsung and UCSF’s Neuroscape Center is investigating whether biometric measures already captured by Samsung’s Galaxy Watch — including sleep, heart rate variability, and physical activity — correlate with objective measures of cognitive performance.
The goal is to determine which of these measures could serve as early-warning signals of changes in brain health. However, establishing their value as digital biomarkers will require rigorous longitudinal research, according to Joaquin A. Anguera, director of the clinical program at Neuroscape and a professor of neurology and psychiatry at UCSF. Anguera is leading the study alongside Theodore Zanto, Ph.D., and Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D.
The Technology for Aging Health–Digital Approaches (TAH-DA) study, launched earlier this year, aims to enroll 200 adults from each decade of life between ages 40 and 89 by the end of 2026. Participants complete cognitive assessments developed by Neuroscape, including the Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation (ACE), a game-based digital assessment designed to measure attention, working memory and goal management. Researchers will compare performance on these assessments with data collected by the Galaxy Watch to investigate potential relationships between physiological signals and cognitive function.
The study is supported by Neuroscape’s Nexus platform, which supports participant onboarding, consenting to participate, accessing games and surveys, using various apps including digital diagnostics assessments and interventions, and interacting with an AI-powered chatbot and virtual assistant.