Fox Insight, MJFF’s online study to learn more about the lived experience of Parkinson’s disease (PD), launched in April and already has more than 2,500 users completing surveys on their symptoms and medication regimen every 90 days. That data will offer researchers unprecedented insights into the intricacies of living with PD and may help the field uncover associations that could point to new therapeutic approaches.
We know, though, that there is much more to learn about the daily experience of Parkinson’s disease, and so Fox Insight is expanding to measure symptoms that can change day to day, even hour to hour.
Now people with PD who use an Android smartphone can receive a free smartwatch from Fox Insight and contribute data on motor symptoms. In partnership with Intel, MJFF is leading the charge to understand how data captured from a smartwatch can help researchers understand changes in movement throughout the day.
A team of data scientists at Intel are analyzing the de-identified data collected through the smartwatch and smartphone to measure the impact of medication on Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremor. Researchers may be able to learn more about “on” and “off” periods, which could help optimize medication regimens and develop new therapies.
People with Parkinson’s who use an Android mobile phone (e.g., Samsung Galaxy, Motorola DROID) can join the wearables study by registering with Fox Insight. When you sign up, you’ll be asked what kind of smartphone you have. Android users will be contacted to join the wearables study, and Fox Insight provides the smartwatch to you for free; there is no purchase or travel required to participate.
If you’re already participating in Fox Insight and have an Android smartphone but aren’t involved in the wearables study yet, visit michaeljfox.org/wearfoxinsight to learn how you can get started.
This is the first of many features Fox Insight plans to roll out building on the infrastructure of the online study. Stay tuned for more opportunities to contribute to our understanding of Parkinson’s disease through Fox Insight.
Watch a webinar on how data from wearable devices and smartphones will help teach scientists more about Parkinson’s disease.
