At the CES 2026, Samsung’s Vice President and Head of Digital Health, Praveen Raja, announced that the company is working on a new set of AI-powered tools to monitor cognitive function and identify the early signs of dementia in users (via official newsroom post).
The feature should be available for the newer Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring models in the near future. It will work by analyzing users’ everyday behavior, including changes in speech patterns (including how someone interacts with the on-device AI assistant), movement, and walking cadence, and even how one uses the smart devices in their house.
From fitness tracking to brain health monitoring
Basically, the smartwatch and smart ring (with all their sensors) should be able to detect subtle changes in how users speak, move, and interact with the smart devices around them over time and identify early signs of cognitive decline. However, Samsung remains very careful to note that it won’t be a medical diagnostic tool at launch.
Instead, it will alert users and families to potential signs of mental decline, suggesting they consult a medical professional for further guidance. The technology relies heavily on artificial intelligence: it gathers and processes data from a bunch of sensors on the health-monitoring devices, processes them on the devices (comparing real-time data to baseline metrics), and informs users of any disparities.
The cognitive monitoring feature marks a major shift in how consumer wearables can help users track their mental health (in addition to their physical health). Until now, smartwatches have primarily focused on physical metrics like steps, calories, and heart rate. But Samsung’s cognitive monitoring feature aims to change that.
Globally, dementia affects millions of people, and earlier detection could seriously help curb the symptoms or take preventive measures in time to either slow its progression or improve the quality of life through timely medication and lifestyle changes. Even though clinical validation and medical integration remain a question at this point, the feature sounds promising.
While Samsung hasn’t confirmed the availability of the cognitive monitoring feature, it should be available as a beta (for testing) in select markets around the globe. If successful, Samsung’s cognitive monitoring feature could quietly change what we expect from health-tracking wearables, helping them evolve from fitness trackers to an early warning system for brain health.
Most recently, a Samsung Health update added smarter snoring detection to Galaxy Watches.
