Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mobility, defined as movement in all its forms, is a hallmark of healthy ageing. As wearable technologies become increasingly integrated into population health surveillance and ageing research, the absence of standardised terminology, measurement protocols and reporting practices presents a major barrier to progress. This consensus exercise aimed to establish minimum standards for measuring mobility with wearable technology in ageing populations and set priorities for future research in the field.
METHODS: A two-day, in-person consensus meeting was convened with 24 international experts in ageing, mobility and digital health. Using a modified nominal group technique facilitated by a trained moderator, participants engaged in structured small-group brainstorming, followed by iterative large-group discussions. Consensus was achieved through anonymised digital voting on proposed measures, principles and priorities.
FINDINGS: Consensus (≥80% agreement) was reached on 20 core device-derived mobility measures and 30 guiding principles for the optimal use of wearable technology in older populations. Experts also identified and ranked 16 priority areas for future research, with the top five including: (i) longitudinal studies and data collection, (ii) digital biomarkers and health outcomes, (iii) contextual data capture, (iv) algorithm development and validation and (v) integration with healthcare systems.
INTERPRETATIONS: These consensus-based standards provide a foundational framework for the consistent and transparent use of wearable devices in ageing research and practice. They can inform the development of regulations and guidelines, support harmonisation across studies and chart a path for future research to enhance the utility and impact of wearable technologies in ageing populations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | afaf376 |
| Journal | Age and Ageing |
| Volume | 55 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 21 Jan 2026 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Jan 2026 |
Funding
M.K.B. is supported by a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Mobility, Aging and Chronic Disease. C.D. is supported by a CIHR postdoctoral Fellowship (FRN:200983). A.D. is funded by the Wellcome Trust [223,100/Z/21/Z]. A.D.’s research team is supported by grants from commercial organisations including Novo Nordisk, Swiss Re and Boehringer Ingelheim. E.S. is a paid consultant and holds equity in Complement 1, a US-based company whose services relate to physical activity, and he has been a paid expert witness in a court trial related to the contents of this article. JG-A & ISGlobal acknowledge support from the grant CEX2023-0001290-S funded by CIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. L.A. reports consultancy activity with Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., outside of this article. P.R. Holds the Raymond and Margaret Labarge Chair in Research and Knowledge Application for Optimal Aging and is the Director of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and the Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging. This consensus exercise was funded by the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) and Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging (to M.K.B). Additional funding was provided through a UK Research and Innovation Ageing Networks Global Partnership Award (to A.S.)
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Consejo Interuniversitario Nacional | |
| Generalitat de Catalunya | |
| McMaster Institute for Research on Aging | |
| Agencia Estatal de Investigación | |
| Canada Research Chairs | |
| UK Research and Innovation Ageing Networks | |
| Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging | |
| Canadian Institutes of Health Research | 200983 |
| Wellcome Trust | 223,100/Z/21/Z |
| Boehringer Ingelheim | CEX2023-0001290-S |
Keywords
- accelerometers
- digital biomarker
- gait
- older people
- physical activity
- step count
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ageing
- Geriatrics and Gerontology