Wearable technology, from smartwatches to temple-mounted devices, is increasingly marketed as a tool for monitoring brain health. Celebrities and social media hype have fueled the belief that these devices can detect conditions like stroke, epilepsy, or Parkinson’s disease—even before symptoms appear. Recently, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal was seen using a temple-based device that measures blood flow near the brain, drawing renewed attention to this emerging trend.

Neurologists stress that while wearables collect continuous real-world health data, their ability to detect brain diseases is extremely limited. Dr. Bipan Kumar Sharma of New Delhi explains that these devices can help monitor early warning signs, such as sleep disturbances or irregular movements, but they cannot replace MRI scans, EEG tests, or a full neurological evaluation. In short, wearables can alert users to potential issues, but they cannot confirm a diagnosis.

These devices work by sensing physiological signals from the area where they are worn. Wristbands monitor heart rate and blood flow, while temple or forehead devices track blood flow near the temporal artery. Other formats, such as postural belts or eye trackers, measure movement patterns, posture, or eye activity. While this data can give indirect insights into neurological health, it cannot reliably detect or predict brain diseases.

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Where wearables can be useful is in tracking lifestyle patterns or monitoring patients with already diagnosed neurological conditions. For example, they can monitor tremor severity in Parkinson’s patients, assess gait and fall risk, or evaluate sleep quality in epilepsy. Dr. Sorabh Gupta notes that wearables can assist doctors in managing chronic conditions but should always be used as supportive tools, not diagnostic devices.

Despite marketing claims, neurologists emphasize that brain wearables cannot diagnose strokes, dementia, brain tumors, or epilepsy. Devices that measure blood flow near the temple provide only a rough approximation and do not reflect actual brain function. For serious neurological evaluation, tools like EEG, MRI, and CT scans remain essential, and emergency symptoms should always prompt immediate medical attention.

Looking ahead, experts remain cautiously optimistic. Advances in brain-computer interfaces and AI-powered monitoring could improve brain health tracking in the future, but clinically validated wearable devices are still years away. For now, wearables are best used as wellness and monitoring aids, while neurological care continues to rely on expert clinical judgment.

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