Startup Tech Tracks Parkinson’s Symptoms
- Mario Aguilar covers technology in health care, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, wearable devices, telehealth, and digital therapeutics.His stories explore how tech is changing the practice of health...
- A surge of investment and startup activity signals a growing focus on technology designed to monitor and manage Parkinson's disease.
- Several companies are leading the charge. Kneu Health, a startup originating from Oxford University, recently secured $5.6 million in funding for its smartphone app-based platform.
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Tech Gains Traction in Parkinson’s Disease Monitoring: A Growing Field
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A surge of investment and startup activity signals a growing focus on technology designed to monitor and manage Parkinson’s disease. From smartphone apps to Apple Watch integrations, these tools aim to provide a more continuous and objective picture of a patient’s symptoms than customary, infrequent clinical assessments allow. This shift is driven by both the inherent suitability of Parkinson’s symptoms for sensor-based tracking and a recognized need for more extensive data in patient care.
Recent Developments
Several companies are leading the charge. Kneu Health, a startup originating from Oxford University, recently secured $5.6 million in funding for its smartphone app-based platform. This platform tracks movement, speech, and cognitive changes over time, and is currently being trialed by Cedars-Sinai and Mass General Brigham, along with working with the U.K. National Health Service. Kneu Health has now raised a total of $11.2 million.
Rune Labs, based in San Francisco, has quietly raised an additional $11 million from existing investors, bringing their total funding to $57 million. Rune Labs leverages the Apple Watch to track Parkinson’s symptoms and has established a growing partnership with Kaiser Permanente. Their approach focuses on providing data-driven insights to clinicians.
Empatica, a wearable device and algorithm developer, recently acquired PKG Health, a company with a user base of 35,000 Parkinson’s patients. Empatica’s primary business model centers around supporting pharmaceutical companies in their research and development efforts.
why Now? The Need for Objective Data
For over a decade, researchers and developers have been exploring technology to monitor Parkinson’s disease. the motor symptoms – tremors,gait changes,rigidity – are particularly well-suited to tracking with sensors. However, the current standard of care relies heavily on infrequent, in-person assessments using subjective scales. This provides only a snapshot of a patient’s condition and fails to capture the daily fluctuations that are characteristic of the disease.
Patients themselves often rely on paper diaries to record their symptoms and medication timing, a method prone to recall bias and inconsistencies. The need for more objective, continuous data is clear.
| Company | Technology | Funding (Total) | Key Partnerships/Clients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kneu Health | Smartphone app (movement, speech, cognitive) | $11.2 million | U.K. NHS,Cedars-Sinai,Mass General Brigham |
| Rune Labs | Apple watch-based symptom tracking | $57 million | Kaiser Permanente |
| Empatica | Wearable sensors & algorithms | (Not publicly disclosed) | Pharmaceutical companies,PKG Health (acquired) |