FDA clears tremor monitoring module as Neu Health launches phone-based tech that detects subtle indicators of neurological decline.
British health tech startup Neu Health has launched its smartphone-based platform for the detection and management of Parkinson’s disease and dementia in the US market. Neu’s platform aims to turns any smartphone into a clinical-grade assessment tool for neurological health.
The company’s US launch coincides with receiving FDA 510(k) clearance for its “tremor measurement” module, which the company claims is the first to quantify motor symptoms in adults with mild to moderate Parkinson’s using only a phone, without requiring wearable devices or specialized hardware.
Neu’s platform uses smartphone sensor data to detect changes that may precede visible neurological decline. Patients complete short, guided tasks from home, such as speaking, tapping, moving or recalling words, which are analyzed by algorithms trained on more than a decade of longitudinal Parkinson’s data. The phone’s sensors capture speech patterns, motor performance, memory and cognitive function, generating digital biomarkers and predictive scores that reveal subtle changes often missed in routine visits.
“People often overlook voice or gait changes because they assume they’re minor, but they’re among the earliest and most actionable signals of neurological decline,” said Neu’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Kinan Muhammed. “By capturing these subtle shifts longitudinally and objectively, Neu allows us to anticipate deterioration, personalize treatment and reduce the burden on patients, caregivers and care teams alike.”
The platform is designed to shift neurological care from reactive to proactive, addressing the often long gaps between clinic visits that leave patients and families without structured support as symptoms progress.
“For too long, we’ve treated brain health reactively, standing by until someone is visibly declining before stepping in,” said Neu Health CEO Caroline Cake. “We can no longer wait for accidents to happen to justify the next level of care for our loved ones. Neu offers health systems a new path forward, where high-frequency monitoring, predictive insights and home-based tools expand the reach of neurologists, relieve pressure on frontline staff and raise the standard of care for millions of patients and families.”
Neu’s entry into the US builds on more than a decade of research and validation in the UK, where it has been deployed in NHS Trusts. Early deployments in the UK suggest the platform can detect neurological changes earlier than conventional assessments, sometimes by as much as 18 months. Its digital phenotyping methods have been presented in peer-reviewed publications, including Neurology and the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Neu is now pursuing partnerships with US health systems and payers, and revealed its platform is already being used in Parkinson’s care at Mass General Brigham. The company says it is focused on expanding access to specialist-level brain care in the US, including in underserved rural communities where traditional clinic-based care can be difficult to access.
Photographs courtesy of Neu Health.