Wearable technologies for mental health monitoring older adults: systematic review

Abstract

PurposeTo explore the evidence on the effectiveness of wearable technologies in monitoring and managing mental health problems among older adults.MethodsA systematic search was conducted on November 15, 2024, across five databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline (OVID), Scopus, and Web of Science, using relevant keywords and MeSH terms. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42025640569). Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included after quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklist for RCTs. Data extraction and study selection were managed with Covidence. The total number of participants across these five studies was 321.ResultsThe included studies assessed depression, anxiety, and stress in older adults. The wearable technologies utilized comprised accelerometer-measured physical activity devices, foot sensors, hand dynamometers, GPS physical activity watches, and the Empatica E4 wearable device, classified as a Class IIA Medical Device. A total of five randomized controlled trials were included in this review, all of which demonstrated moderate to high methodological quality.ConclusionThe limited available evidence suggests a potential role of wearable technologies in improving mental health among older adults.Integrating wearables into routine geriatric mental health care may improve monitoring and intervention strategies.