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Talking about social media and technology and the impacts they have on mental health is common these days. From the emotional effect of social media to serving as a distance link with our loved ones, there is no doubt that technology plays a determinant factor in how we live day to day and has an undeniable effect on our emotions and thoughts.
Fortunately, not everything is negative. Currently, Apple is developing new ways to use its devices to detect cognitive impairments and mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, and others, when using its phones and watches.
The tech giant is working with researchers at the University of California to study effects on factors such as anxiety, depression, and stress, by monitoring data submitted by 3,000 volunteers.
The researchers compare the data captured by the sensors of the Apple Watch and the iPhone with the answers given manually by the participants. The research also tests the levels of the hormone cortisol from the hair follicles of the participants. In addition, Apple partnered with the pharmaceutical company Biogen to study the cognitive development of Alzheimer’s.
The hope is to create an operational application that helps to know the development or cognitive deterioration of the user and alert him to what it detects. If their tests are successful, this new system could revolutionize mental diagnoses and health problems.
A feature hope in future technology.
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unsplash @ marcin, vuatao, lukechesser.