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They're the high-tech health trackers that can detect an irregular heartbeat, a high-risk sleep disorder - or advise when to stop drinking coffee.
According to recent research, smartwatches may now be able to predict a wearer's risk of developing dementia.
Australian researchers found that people who regularly walked at a brisk pace, as tracked by nearly 50,000 Brits wearing the devices, were 40 per cent less likely to develop cognitive decline or the condition.
Researchers found that individuals who went to bed early and slept for more than nine hours per weeknight were at a 60 percent higher risk of developing the condition over a seven-day period.
Researchers expressed their hope that these smartwatches could potentially serve as a screening device for dementia in the future.
They emphasized that it is essential to conduct further research to compare these findings with data collected globally.
Dr. Lloyd Chan and Dr. Maria Teresa Espinoza Cerda, research fellows at Neuroscience Research Australia, stated: 'This research showcases the potential for smartwatches and fitness trackers to be utilized in dementia screening.
'These devices, which are non-invasive and easy to use, may provide significant insights into an individual's risk of developing dementia by analyzing their daily activities and sleep patterns.'
In a recent study, scientists monitored a total of 47,371 participants with an average age of 67, who wore wrist-worn devices for as many as seven consecutive days.
The study of 387 participants over a follow-up period of seven and a half years found that 387 individuals were subsequently diagnosed with dementia.
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For every additional 3,200 steps taken, the risk decreased by 30 percent on average.
Compared to individuals with normal sleep duration, those with 'excessive sleep' — more than nine hours — increased their risk of a dementia diagnosis by 50 percent.
Those who go to bed early - before 9 pm - are 60 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with a sleep disorder than those with a typical bedtime.
The researchers, though, acknowledged that the study had some limitations, including a lack of information about participants' family histories of dementia.
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It is estimated that nearly half of all Alzheimer's cases could be prevented by addressing 14 modifiable lifestyle factors from early childhood.
Global health experts have discovered that nearly one in ten dementia cases worldwide are linked to a combination of high cholesterol and vision loss.
They join 12 other factors, ranging from genetics to smoking status, that experts have identified as increasing the risk that a person will suffer from dementia.
Discounting unavoidable factors, such as the natural aging process and individual genetic predispositions, experts point out that smoking and a lack of physical activity are significant contributors to the risk of chronic diseases.
Researchers declared that the study, published in the prominent journal The Lancet, offered more grounds for optimism than ever before that the debilitating memory disorder affecting millions can be addressed.
Estimates indicate that the overall annual cost of dementia to the UK is approximately 42 billion pounds, with families being the primary bearers of this financial burden.
An aging population is expected to lead to a sharp increase in these costs, which encompass the lost earnings of unpaid caregivers, to a staggering £90 billion over the next 15 years.
Nine hundred and eighty-two thousand people in the UK.
It is believed to be caused by the accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain, which aggregate and form plaques and tangles, ultimately hindering the brain's ability to function normally.
Eventually, the brain struggles to recover from this damage, and symptoms of dementia emerge.
Memory loss, cognitive decline, and language issues are typical initial symptoms of the condition, which gradually worsen over time.
becoming the country's leading cause of death.
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