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Daily-life walking speed, running duration and bedtime from wrist-worn sensors predict incident dementia: A watch walk – UK biobank study
Lloyd L. Y. Chan, María Teresa Espinoza Cerda, Matthew A D Brodie, Stephen R. Lord, Morag E. Taylor. International Psychogeriatrics, 2025-01-06
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Median follow-up was 7.5 years (interquartile range: 7.0 to 9.0 years), during this time 387 participants (0.8 %) were diagnosed with dementia. Among the gait parameters, slower maximal walking speed had the strongest association with incident dementia (32 % decrease in hazard for each standard deviation increase) followed by lower daily step counts (30 % decrease) and increased step-time variability (17 % increase). While adjusting for age and sex, running duration, maximal walking speed and early bedtime were identified as independent and significant predictors of dementia. The multivariable prediction model performed comparably to the ANU-ADRI and UKB-Dementia Risk Score models in the UK Biobank cohort. The study findings indicate that remotely acquired parameters from wrist-worn sensors can predict incident dementia. Since wrist-worn sensors are highly acceptable for long-term use, wrist-worn sensor parameters have the potential to be incorporated into dementia screening programs.
Key findings
- Median follow-up was 7.5 years (interquartile range: 7.0 to 9.0 years), during this time 387 participants (0.8 %) were diagnosed with dementia.
- Among the gait parameters, slower maximal walking speed had the strongest association with incident dementia (32 % decrease in hazard for each standard deviation increase) followed by lower daily step counts (30 % decrease) and increased step-time variability (17 % increase).
- While adjusting for age and sex, running duration, maximal walking speed and early bedtime were identified as independent and significant predictors of dementia.
- The multivariable prediction model performed comparably to the ANU-ADRI and UKB-Dementia Risk Score models in the UK Biobank cohort.
- The study findings indicate that remotely acquired parameters from wrist-worn sensors can predict incident dementia.
Why it matters
In UK Biobank participants followed a median of 7.5 years, slower maximal walking speed, lower daily step counts and increased step-time variability were associated with incident dementia, and a prediction model using wrist sensor data performed comparably to existing risk scores. This suggests wrist-worn sensors could be used for dementia screening, not that they prevent or treat the disease.
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants47,371
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Psychogeriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Psychogeriatrics: journal h-index 161 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 47,371 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 19 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 19 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Morag E. Taylor: h-index 24 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | UNSW Sydney: institution h-index 1,101 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39827009) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.inpsyc.2024.100031
- PubMed: 39827009
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Psychogeriatrics →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Chan, L. L. Y., Cerda, M. T. E., Brodie, M. A. D., Lord, S. R., & Taylor, M. E. (2025). Daily-life walking speed, running duration and bedtime from wrist-worn sensors predict incident dementia: A watch walk – UK biobank study. International Psychogeriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpsyc.2024.100031
Vancouver
Chan LLY, Cerda MTE, Brodie MAD, Lord SR, Taylor ME. Daily-life walking speed, running duration and bedtime from wrist-worn sensors predict incident dementia: A watch walk – UK biobank study. International Psychogeriatrics. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.inpsyc.2024.100031. PMID: 39827009.
BibTeX
@article{chan2025-39827009,
author = {Chan, Lloyd L. Y. and Cerda, María Teresa Espinoza and Brodie, Matthew A D and Lord, Stephen R. and Taylor, Morag E.},
title = {{Daily-life walking speed, running duration and bedtime from wrist-worn sensors predict incident dementia: A watch walk – UK biobank study}},
journal = {International Psychogeriatrics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.inpsyc.2024.100031},
pmid = {39827009},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpsyc.2024.100031}
}
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