From measurement to meaning: why real-world mobility requires more than sensors.

The article focuses on the establishment of global standards for wearable technology to measure mobility in aging populations. It emphasizes the need for a shared conceptual framework with harmonized definitions to treat mobility as a coherent construct, alongside validated metrics linked to clinica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Age & Ageing Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 1 - 4
Main Authors: Jansen, Carl-Philipp, Klenk, Jochen
Format: Article
Published: Oxford University Press / USA Jan2026
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:The article focuses on the establishment of global standards for wearable technology to measure mobility in aging populations. It emphasizes the need for a shared conceptual framework with harmonized definitions to treat mobility as a coherent construct, alongside validated metrics linked to clinically meaningful endpoints for effective clinical use. The integration of contextual information and the development of robust reference data, both cohort-based and individual longitudinal, are highlighted as essential for accurate interpretation of real-world mobility data. These elements aim to transform digital mobility assessment from a technological innovation into a clinically actionable tool for older adults.