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HEALTH & WELLNESS OCTOBER 16, 2026 | The Indian Eye 50

AI Health Queries AI-Powered

Wellness
Linked to Higher Anxiety Gadgets Take

Among Young Centre Stage at

CES 2026

oung adults who turn to gen- rtificial intelligence-powered
erative artificial intelligence mirrors, smart scales, allergen
Yfor answers to health-related Adetectors and health-focused
questions may be more likely to screen wearables emerged among the nota-
positive for clinically significant anxi- ble wellness technologies showcased
ety and depression, according to a at the Consumer Electronics Show
(CES) 2026, signalling a growing push
new University of Florida-led study to bring personalised health monitor-
involving nearly 100,000 young adults. ing into everyday life. The technol-
The study found that young ogies, however, remain at different
adults who reported using generative stages of development and are not sub-
AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude stitutes for professional medical care.
for health questions had 52% higher One of the prominent devices was
odds of screening positive for anxiety NuraLogix’s Longevity Mirror, which
and 46% higher odds for depression uses a 30-second facial scan to assess
than those who did not use AI for several health-related measurements.
such queries. Among AI users, about The company says its system can anal-
52% screened positive for anxiety, Journal of Counseling & Devel- search engines, generative AI can yse indicators including heart rate,
compared with 43% among non-us- opment, analysed data collected respond conversationally and ad- blood pressure, metabolic health and
ers. For depression, the figures were during 2023 and 2024. Researchers dress follow-up questions, which psychological well-being before gen-
47% and 38%, respectively. accounted for demographic factors may make its answers appear more erating a physiological-age assessment
Researchers stressed that the including age, race and ethnicity, bi- authoritative even when informa- and personalised lifestyle suggestions.
findings show an association, not a ological sex and socioeconomic sta- tion is incomplete or inaccurate. The device is expected to cost $899,
cause-and-effect relationship. The tus, with the association remaining The researchers said the find- with a subscription after the first year.
study does not establish that using after these adjustments. ings should be viewed as an early Food safety also featured prom-
AI causes anxiety or depression. It Researchers said repeated con- indication rather than a complete inently at the show. French startup
is also possible that young people versations with AI about health picture of AI’s impact on young Allergen Alert demonstrated a porta-
already experiencing psychological concerns could potentially create people’s health-information habits. ble testing device designed to analyse
distress are more likely to use AI to a cycle in which uncertainty leads They called for greater AI literacy, food samples for allergens. Its initial
understand symptoms or seek reas- to questions, followed by further including helping students assess the version is expected to detect gluten
surance. doubts and additional searches for reliability and limitations of AI-gen- and milk, with other allergens planned
The research, published in the reassurance. Unlike conventional erated health information. for future versions. The company ex-
pects the product to become available
for preorder later in 2026.
Eye Scans May Offer Clues to Heart Health other major focus. The Airvida T1S
Wearable technology was an-
combines wireless earbuds with an
air-purifying function, while the
etinal scans could one day finding was a thinner macular gangli- show an association, not proof that Withings Body Scan 2 uses a smart-
help doctors identify people at on cell–inner plexiform layer, a part retinal changes cause atrial fibrilla- scale format to measure more than
Rhigher risk of atrial fibrillation, of the retina involved in transmitting tion. The study was observational, 60 health-related markers and pro-
a common heart-rhythm disorder, ac- visual information to the brain. and participants were not continu- vide app-based insights. The lat-
cording to recent research examining The researchers then examined ously monitored for irregular heart ter is expected to launch in the US
the connection between changes in 39,013 UK Biobank participants who rhythms. Some may already have had during the second quarter of 2026.
the eye and cardiovascular health. The had no recorded atrial fibrillation undiagnosed atrial fibrillation when Meanwhile, Link2Care’s Watch-
findings suggest that detailed images of when their retinal images were tak- their eyes were scanned. 2Care Vital combines conventional
the retina may contain clues about con- en. Over an average follow-up of 10.3 The research forms part of the biometric tracking with insights in-
ditions affecting the heart, although the years, 838 participants were subse- emerging field of “oculomics”, which spired by Traditional Chinese Med-
technology is not yet a diagnostic tool. quently diagnosed with the condition. explores whether eye images can re- icine. The smartwatch measures 38
Researchers analysed retinal im- After accounting for factors including veal information about diseases else- biometrics and translates them into
ages and health records from two large age, sex, high blood pressure, diabetes, where in the body. Retinal imaging is additional health indicators through
datasets, including AlzEye, linked to smoking and alcohol consumption, non-invasive and already widely used its companion application.
Moorfields Eye Hospital, and the UK each standard-deviation decrease in in eye care, making it a potential fu- Experts have also cautioned
Biobank. In a group of 50,651 people, the thickness of the retinal layer was ture screening aid. However, atrial that consumers should consider the
those with atrial fibrillation showed associated with a 27% higher risk of fibrillation still requires confirma- accuracy, privacy and limitations of
differences in several retinal layers later atrial fibrillation. tion through an ECG or other heart- AI-driven health gadgets before treat-
and blood-vessel measurements. One Experts caution that the findings rhythm monitoring. ing their readings as medical advice.

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