Samsung is unveiling its latest health theme at CES 2026: a feature called Brain Health. While our watches already track our hearts and sleep, Samsung is now trying to peer into our cognitive future. This new service isn’t just a fitness tracker for your mind; This is a sophisticated early warning system designed to detect the subtle, often invisible signs of dementia long before a doctor notices them.
The core idea of “Brain Health” is to transform our everyday devices into diagnostic powerhouses. Instead of requiring a brain scan or a battery of clinical tests, the system looks at “digital biomarkers” – the tiny changes in the way we move, talk and sleep that can signal the start of cognitive decline.
Samsung isn’t just guessing here. The feature is based on research that suggests brain changes can begin a decade or more before a formal Alzheimer’s diagnosis. By embedding it into the Samsung Health app, the company believes that constant, passive monitoring can detect these “red flags” much earlier than an annual exam ever could.
What exactly is your phone looking for?
The Brain Health system pulls data from your Galaxy phone, Watch, and even Ring to analyze three main pillars:
Gait Pattern: It tracks your walking speed and the rhythm of your steps. Changes in balance or a slowing of pace can be some of the earliest physical signs of cognitive problems.
Vocal Changes: AI analyzes subtle changes in your voice – things like fluency, the time it takes to recall words, and even the tone or accuracy of your sentences.
Sleep Metrics: While we already track sleep, this feature specifically looks for “stability” and quality patterns that are often disrupted when the brain begins to struggle with memory or processing.
Previous research from Samsung also suggested that typing speed and messaging patterns could be tracked. However, it remains to be seen whether these specific “behavioral” protocols will be active in the initial version shown at Wynn Las Vegas.
Samsung expressly emphasizes that this is not a replacement for a doctor
If the system detects a downward trend instead, it acts as a guide. It might suggest “preventive measures” or enroll you in a personalized brain training program — similar to digital brain games — designed to keep your cognitive skills sharp. In more serious cases, it can even be set up to notify a guardian or guardian if an emergency or severe decline is detected.
Because this is arguably the most sensitive data a phone can collect, Samsung relies heavily on its Knox security. The company claims that all processing occurs locally on your device, meaning your “brain data” is not uploaded to a cloud or shared with external networks.
Currently, Brain Health is a “showcase” feature. Samsung has completed in-house development and is currently conducting clinical validation at medical institutions to ensure that the AI is indeed accurate.
If it passes these tests and overcomes regulatory hurdles, it could be crucial for the aging population. It transforms a smartwatch from a luxury toy into a vital medical device that offers peace of mind – or at least a head start on a very difficult journey. We expect to hear more about a potential launch of the Galaxy Watch 9 or future S-series phones when these clinical trials conclude later this year.
