Digital Biomarkers
Definition
Digital biomarkers are objective physiological or behavioural measures collected through digital technologies such as wearable sensors, smartphones, connected devices, or remote monitoring tools. In ageing research, they can include measures such as gait speed, sleep patterns, heart rate, activity levels, balance, mobility, or cognition-related behaviour. [1] [2] [3]
Why It Matters in Ageing Research
Digital biomarkers matter because they can capture health and function repeatedly in real-world settings rather than only during occasional clinic visits. This makes them useful for studying frailty, mobility, sleep, cardiovascular function, cognitive change, and responses to interventions, although candidate digital biomarkers still need careful validation before they can be treated as reliable clinical or trial endpoints. [2] [4] [5]
Common Confusion
- Digital biomarkers are not the same as general wellness metrics; they need a defined biological or clinical meaning.
- A wearable measurement is not automatically a validated biomarker simply because it is collected digitally.
- Digital biomarkers can complement blood tests, imaging, and molecular clocks, but they do not replace clinical judgement.
Related Reading
References
- FDA-NIH Biomarker Working Group. (2016). BEST (Biomarkers, EndpointS, and other Tools) Resource. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326791/
- Alonso, A. K. M., et al. (2024). Definitions of digital biomarkers: a systematic mapping of the biomedical literature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01073-0
- Powell, D., et al. (2024). Harnessing the power of digital biomarkers in healthcare. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01023-w
- Moqri, M., Herzog, C., Poganik, J. R., et al. (2023). Biomarkers of aging for the identification and evaluation of longevity interventions. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.003
- Zhou, H., Razjouyan, J., Halder, K., et al. (2021). Digital biomarkers of cognitive frailty: the value of detailed sensor-based gait assessment. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111542
This glossary entry is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.