Samsung is also readying a new health service, Brain Health, which will, according to reports, arrive at CES and help catch early signs of cognitive decline with everyday Galaxy phone and wearable data. The effort amounts to a huge bet on neurological well-being, with Samsung likely looking to use patterns from sensors and on-device AI to identify signs of dementia risk.
What the Brain Health service would do for users
Brain Health will monitor cognitive changes over a period of time using various signals such as voice features, gait dynamics and sleep patterns, Chosun Biz reported. Samsung has previously detailed other digital markers it’s able to observe, including the cadence of messaging, typing speed and app usage trends — but voice, movement and sleep are called out in the latest report as being among the first wave.
While it is not a flair-carrying tool on your head, Brain Health promises to deliver “preventative measures,” such as alerts when risk patterns are detected and the capability to have an opt-in caregiver alert you to something dubious should that acceleration suddenly take place. Samsung is also reportedly working on personalized brain training modules, mirroring the surge of for-and-against, often clinically mediated, brain games but which are instead tied much closer to your real-world behavior tracked by devices you already wear.
Why early detection matters for cognitive decline risk
Some 55 million people worldwide have dementia, the World Health Organization estimates — a number it says will double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050. Alzheimer’s Disease International projects that cases will nearly triple by mid-century. Early, constant monitoring is crucial since slight differences in speech, walking speed and sleep disruption may occur years before a clinical diagnosis; as has been established by various neurology research.
Early detection of change can provide a window for lifestyle interventions, clinical evaluation and planning. Modifiable risk factors, such as hearing loss, hypertension, lack of exercise and social isolation, have been accounted for by The Lancet Commission to potentially prevent or delay around 40% of dementia cases. An automated tool that drives users to act when risk patterns start might similarly help push those interventions upstream.
How it might work on Galaxy devices and sensors
Samsung’s wearables already track heart rate, motion and sleep stages, and the microphones and motion sensors on a smartphone can gather rich context. Brain Health apparently processes these inputs in combination with on-device AI models to compute personalized baseline levels and identify deviations over weeks and months, compared to a single test result.
Security is at the heart of the pitch. Samsung will leverage its Knox platform, retaining sensitive data on the device for as long as possible to minimize exposure and instill confidence among users. Look for granular controls on what is analyzed, who sees alerts and how long data stays around — key in a category where undue stigma and privacy concerns can be obstacles to participation.
The training element may suggest brief daily challenges to improve attention, processing speed, working memory or dual-tasking. The evidence around “brain games” is mixed, but focused, sustained practice that’s linked to real-world activities — like walking while multitasking — has demonstrated promise in studies of aging populations. What Samsung has that many of the other in-ear devices do not is this feedback loop: Those sensors — the same ones sensing deficiency — can tell you whether a prescribed exercise, for example, is working to address it.
Clinical validation and the regulatory path for launch
According to Chosun Biz, the company adds that the service is “virtually completed” and being clinically verified with medical institutions. That step matters. Making digital biomarkers truly informative requires broad data sets, standard protocols and firm thresholds that demote false positives. External validation will determine whether Brain Health rolls out as a general wellness feature or pursues regulatory clearances in certain markets.
Samsung’s careful framing reflects a broader industry shift. Companies like Apple and Google have incorporated features that offer a peek at cognitive health — such as gait stability, fall risk or sleep metrics — and most have focused largely on the wellness side of the line. Strong clinical evidence and an open methodology will decide how far Brain Health can go in directing medical decision-making versus providing proactive self-care.
What to watch for at CES as Samsung details Brain Health
Still unanswered questions include which Galaxy devices Brain Health will roll out to at the start, how Samsung will avoid tipping users into anxiety with risk insights, and what controls caregivers have over alerts. It’s also open as to pricing and regional access. A tight, privacy-first rollout with clear disclaimers and a public roadmap for more biomarkers would indicate confidence in the science and care about its users’ interests.
If Brain Health lives up to its promise, it could mean that cognitive assessment moves out of clinic visits and into people’s daily lives, a passive check-in moment — when it matters. For millions in danger, and their supporting families, that shift could be life-changing.
