Wearables for Your Brain — Helpful or Hype?
Courtesy: Somnee
The Trend: Brain computer interfaces, or BCIs, are on the rise. This new class of wellness wearables taps into your brainwaves to help you track and improve your cognitive health and performance. It all may seem like overkill, but in a world where a growing number of adults are reporting issues with memory, focus, and decision-making — with the largest growing class being young people (ages 18 to 39) — we might need all the help we can get.
What People Are Saying: “Brainwaves are the new steps,” writes one wellness journalist. The industry that once focused on physical activity as the prime metric of health is now honing in on cognitive health markers. Devices like the Muse headband, for instance, combine data from EEG signals, heart rate detection, and oxygen monitoring and wrap it all up into an AI-driven dashboard where users can get insights and coaching tips on how to fix their attention span. But that’s just one example. Others optimize for more specific parts of your life, like Somnee’s sleep-focused headband (pictured above).
What To Know: The neuromodulation sector of the wellness market isn’t going anywhere. But the basics still work, and you don’t need to invest hundreds — or add another subscription to your stack — to improve your brain health. Prioritize positive social interaction, try new activities to encourage learning, exercise regularly, and eat a neuroprotective diet.
