AccYouRate Rett Study Paves the Way for Predictive Behavioral Analysis in Healthcare

The AccYouRate e-shirt proved instrumental in capturing reliable and easily interpretable multi-parametric data in Rett patients, enhancing understanding of therapies’ effects and the overall care at home

The 100% textile smart T-shirt provides real-time online monitoring of seven vital signals: ECG, heart rate, breathing pattern and depth, body temperature, motion, GPS, and body position for fall alerts.

AccYouRate, a European digital health company that develops wearable technology, and the University Hospital of Siena in Italy have announced the final results of their collaborative study on the use of AccYouRate’s e-shirt and Italian Red Cross, led by Dr. Pasquale Morano, Vice-Secretary General and Chief Medical Officer.

The primary focus of the project has been the expansion of the analytical perspective. The researchers evaluated various factors using a multivariate real-time method, including events, bio-vital responses, and behaviors in both pediatric female patients and adult patients, as well as in the caregivers.

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One of the highlights has been the demonstrable positive effects the wearable tech has had on the caregiver’s caring attitude and behavioral impact through the feedback they are now provided.

Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder affecting only the female DNS, presents profound challenges. Notably, due to their inability to communicate verbally, all Rett patients rely extensively on caregivers, be it family members or nurses, for constant monitoring and treatment. Children with Rett syndrome may also have various other medical problems, including intestinal, breathing, orthopedic, and heart complications. In particular, autonomic dysfunction and an increased sudden death risk have been reported. Historically, conventional approaches often resorted to pharmacological interventions, such as using drugs to induce calmness or sleepiness.

The use of wearables has consistently posed significant challenges for Rett girls, for whom bodily sensoriality plays a critical role in their interaction with the external world,” explained Dr. Claudio DeFelice. “This is precisely why AccYouRate’s technologies have proven to be essential in ensuring seamless and high-quality remote monitoring, without encountering any contraindications or aversion to use among Rett girls.”

However, this is now changing. Parents and caregivers, recognizing the significance of keen observation and understanding of the children’s needs, have become more proactive in addressing rehabilitation activities and prompting the children to adapt and comprehend their requirements.

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“It’s about transforming caregiving from a task into a deeper understanding of the patient’s needs,” said Dr. Arnaldo Usai, CEO of AccYouRate.

AccYouRate’s groundbreaking e-shirt technology has been a catalyst in this transformative journey. The 100% textile smart T-shirt records and monitors bio-vital body signals in real-time during everyday activities and normal living conditions. It provides real-time online monitoring of seven vital signals, including ECG, heart rate, breathing pattern and depth, body temperature, motion, GPS, and body position for fall alerts.
This provides caregivers with insights that they previously didn’t have access to.

The study has reflected a novel approach to behavioral analysis, establishing a connection between the root causes of onset and the significance of stress-inducing states and currently unidentified external triggers.

“Our wearable tech serves as a bridge, linking caregivers and patients in a feedback loop that has the potential to redefine care for Rett patients,” Usai added.

The six-month trial, conducted from February to July 2023, included 12 girls and their caregivers’ families, who are currently undergoing therapies aimed at containing and mitigating the effects of Rett syndrome.

The study reported several findings, including:
· The AccYouRate e-shirt played a crucial role in capturing reliable and easily interpretable multi-parametric data, thus improving the understanding of the effects of therapies and overall at-home care during both day and night monitoring sessions. The e-shirts collected 2GB of data for each of the 12 girls.
· Early diagnoses, facilitated by the technology, play a pivotal role in stalling disease progression by fine-tuning and personalizing treatments.
· A significant 91% data reliability rate was achieved, even for girls with substantial postural and mobility challenges.
· Important insights were gained about the management of stress and fatigue, shedding light on previously uncharted fatigue patterns during the night. This now paves the way for new therapeutic avenues.

Furthermore, the study showed the discovery of significant fatigue curves during nighttime, which previously went unnoticed. This insight is expected to pave the way for new therapeutic approaches.

“While our focus was on Rett syndrome, the insights we’ve gleaned, especially about the behavioral impacts on caregivers, have immense potential for broader medical contexts. It’s more than just wearable tech; it’s about transforming caregiving at its core. This opens the door to a subsequent series of our next scientific and technological investigations, already planned, aimed at understanding and demonstrating new models of behavioral impact assessment by the monitored subjects,” said Dr. Pasquale Morano, Chief Medical Officer and Vice Secretary General of the Italian Red Cross. “From a statistical perspective, we will help to define new predictive models of the behavioral analysis of individuals and groups of users, exposed to the same dynamics, in predicting their reactions, actions, and decisions.”

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