Smart sensors and smarter health: How AI and wearables are reimagining preventive health care
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Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences are leveraging artificial intelligence and wearable technology to transform health care by enabling proactive monitoring and prediction of health events. Dr. Shravan Aras, assistant director of sensor analysis and smart health platforms, is leading efforts to integrate wearable sensors—like smart rings and fitness trackers—into research to better understand human biology and behavior. In collaboration with certified nurse-midwife Dr. Elise Erickson, Aras developed an AI model using high-frequency temperature data from wearable rings to accurately predict labor onset up to a week in advance, a breakthrough that could improve maternal health outcomes. In a separate study on stress reduction, Aras and colleagues analyzed data from participants walking through a nature trail known as the Green Road at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, finding that cortisol levels significantly dropped after exposure to green spaces, while heart rate variability results varied by individual experience. These projects illustrate the immense potential of combining AI with wearable sensors to not only monitor but also anticipate changes in health, moving care from reactive to proactive. With more studies underway, including one using AI to analyze sweat-based biomarkers, the University of Arizona continues to lead innovative research at the intersection of technology and human health.