Study shows AI-powered wristband improves daily function for people with essential tremor
Results published in JAMA Neurology from KU-led clinical trial show improvements in daily living and quality of life
Everyone’s hands shake a bit, which is why it can be hard to thread a needle or hold a camera steady. But for people with essential tremor, which causes involuntary shaking, most often in the hands, even routine tasks like holding a cup of coffee or tying a shoelace can be difficult.
The most common movement disorder in the world, essential tremor affects 7 million Americans — seven times more than have Parkinson’s disease. Tremor affecting the hands can interfere with many daily activities, such as drinking, eating and writing, which impairs patients’ quality of life and may lead to disability and social isolation. Traditional treatments fall short for many: medications may not work well or can cause side effects, while surgical procedures such as deep brain stimulation are invasive and not suitable for everyone.
A clinical trial published in JAMA Neurology tested a noninvasive, drug-free alternative: the Felix NeuroAI™ wristband. The study showed that the wristband, which uses nerve stimulation and employs artificial intelligence (AI) to continuously adjust stimulation settings, significantly improved daily function for people living with essential tremor.
wrist to send therapeutic signals to the brain, reducing
tremor and restoring motor control. Photo courtesy of
Fasikl, Inc.
“This study represents a step forward for people living with essential tremor, many of whom have limited treatment options today,” said Rajesh Pahwa, M.D., principal investigator for the multicenter trial and professor of neurology at KU School of Medicine.
Cleared by the Food and Drug Administration this summer, the Felix wristband, developed by Fasikl, Inc., connects to a cloud-based AI system that continuously learns and adapts to each user’s needs. The wristband stimulates the radial, median and ulnar nerves in the wrist. By adjusting stimulation patterns throughout the day, the wristband provides personalized, all-day relief from tremor.
“We saw clinically meaningful improvements in patients’ ability to perform everyday activities. Patients also reported improvement in their quality of life,” said Pahwa, who is also director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Center at KU Medical Center. “This therapy offers a much-needed option that bridges the gap between pharmacologic management and invasive procedures, such as focused ultrasound or surgical intervention for essential tremor.”
professor of neurology
and director of the
Parkinson’s Disease and
Movement Disorder Center
at KU Medical Center
The randomized, double-blind clinical trial evaluated 125 adults with essential tremor across 12 neurology centers in the United States and China. The trial evaluated whether the Felix wristband was superior to a sham device — one that looked like the Felix wristband but generated brief, random vibrations roughly every five minutes in place of electrical stimulation — in reducing essential tremor. The participants were instructed to use their devices during waking hours for 90 days.
The researchers found that the Felix device improved activities related to upper limb tremor and could be an effective noninvasive treatment.
Key outcomes included:
- The Felix wristband users had an average 6.9-point improvement on the modified Activities of Daily Living score at 90 days, compared with 2.7 points for sham users.
- The AI-driven, wearable design allowed participants to use the device during normal daily activities (average wear time 8.6 hours per day in the Felix group versus 9.5 hours per day in the sham group).
- No serious device-related adverse events were reported in either group.