Research Article
Wearable Devices in Dementia Monitoring: A Systematic Review of Technologies, Design, and Future Directions
@ARTICLE{10.4108/dtip.8856, author={Ana Freitas and Jos\^{e} Soares and Marcelo Arantes and In\"{e}s Rocha and Mariana Carvalho and Marta Pinto and Dem\^{e}trio Matos and Pedro Morais and V\'{\i}tor Carvalho}, title={Wearable Devices in Dementia Monitoring: A Systematic Review of Technologies, Design, and Future Directions}, journal={EAI Endorsed Transactions on Digital Transformation of Industrial Processes}, volume={1}, number={1}, publisher={EAI}, journal_a={DTIP}, year={2025}, month={4}, keywords={Dementia, Wearables, Requirements, Design, Medical Devices, Healthcare, Monitoring}, doi={10.4108/dtip.8856} }- Ana Freitas
José Soares
Marcelo Arantes
Inês Rocha
Mariana Carvalho
Marta Pinto
Demétrio Matos
Pedro Morais
Vìtor Carvalho
Year: 2025
Wearable Devices in Dementia Monitoring: A Systematic Review of Technologies, Design, and Future Directions
DTIP
EAI
DOI: 10.4108/dtip.8856
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Dementia affects over 55 million people worldwide, impacting patient autonomy and increasing caregiver burden. Wearable technology offers new possibilities for monitoring and intervention. However, existing solutions often lack usability, adaptability, and caregiver integration. This study focuses on ear-based wearable devices, such as hearing aids and smart earphones, assessing their role in dementia care. OBJECTIVES: This research aims to review wearable technologies for dementia monitoring, identify key user requirements, and define guidelines for future device development. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect, focusing on studies from 2020-2025. Relevant articles were analysed to identify technological advancements, design considerations, and gaps in existing research. RESULTS: Findings show that ear-based wearables effectively track physiological and behavioural data. Non-invasiveness, usability, and real-time data transmission are key factors. Despite advancements, gaps remain in device adaptability, user experience, and security. A set of physical, emotional, and cognitive requirements was established to guide future development. CONCLUSION: Wearable technology can transform dementia care, but improvements in ergonomics, AI-driven analytics, and caregiver integration are needed. Future research should focus on secure data transmission and clinical validation to ensure real-world effectiveness.
Copyright © 2025 A. R. Freitas et al., licensed to EAI. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, which permits copying, redistributing, remixing, transformation, and building upon the material in any medium so long as the original work is properly cited.
