Unlocking the potential of wearable technology: Fitbit-derived measures for predicting ADHD in adolescents

BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex etiology. The current diagnostic process for ADHD is often time-intensive and subjective. Recent advancements in machine learning offer new opportunities to improve ADHD diagnosis using d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcha.2025.1504323/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850154060085198848
author Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman
Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman
author_facet Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman
Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman
author_sort Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex etiology. The current diagnostic process for ADHD is often time-intensive and subjective. Recent advancements in machine learning offer new opportunities to improve ADHD diagnosis using diverse data sources. This study explores the potential of Fitbit-derived physical activity data to enhance ADHD diagnosis.MethodWe analyzed a sample of 450 participants from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (data release 5.0). Correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations between ADHD diagnosis and Fitbit-derived measurements, including sedentary time, resting heart rate, and energy expenditure. We then used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the predictive power of these measurements for ADHD diagnosis. Additionally, machine learning classifiers were trained to automatically classify individuals into ADHD+ and ADHD− groups.ResultsOur correlation analyses revealed statistically significant associations between ADHD diagnosis and Fitbit-derived physical activity data. The multivariable logistic regression models identified specific Fitbit measurements that significantly predicted ADHD diagnosis. Among the machine learning classifiers, the Random Forest outperformed others with cross-validation accuracy of 0.89, AUC of 0.95, precision of 0.88, recall of 0.90, F1-score of 0.89, and test accuracy of 0.88.ConclusionFitbit-derived measurements show promise for predicting ADHD diagnosis, with machine learning classifiers, particularly Random Forest, demonstrating high predictive accuracy. These findings suggest that wearable data may contribute to more objective and efficient methods for ADHD identification, potentially enhancing clinical practices for diagnosis and management.
format Article
id doaj-art-e6939b0cac0b4404aa60d33493956b00
institution OA Journals
issn 2813-4540
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
spelling doaj-art-e6939b0cac0b4404aa60d33493956b002025-08-20T02:25:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry2813-45402025-05-01410.3389/frcha.2025.15043231504323Unlocking the potential of wearable technology: Fitbit-derived measures for predicting ADHD in adolescentsMuhammad Mahbubur Rahman0Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman1Center for Translational Research, Children’s National Hospital, Silver Spring, MD, United StatesPediatrics & Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United StatesBackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex etiology. The current diagnostic process for ADHD is often time-intensive and subjective. Recent advancements in machine learning offer new opportunities to improve ADHD diagnosis using diverse data sources. This study explores the potential of Fitbit-derived physical activity data to enhance ADHD diagnosis.MethodWe analyzed a sample of 450 participants from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (data release 5.0). Correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations between ADHD diagnosis and Fitbit-derived measurements, including sedentary time, resting heart rate, and energy expenditure. We then used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the predictive power of these measurements for ADHD diagnosis. Additionally, machine learning classifiers were trained to automatically classify individuals into ADHD+ and ADHD− groups.ResultsOur correlation analyses revealed statistically significant associations between ADHD diagnosis and Fitbit-derived physical activity data. The multivariable logistic regression models identified specific Fitbit measurements that significantly predicted ADHD diagnosis. Among the machine learning classifiers, the Random Forest outperformed others with cross-validation accuracy of 0.89, AUC of 0.95, precision of 0.88, recall of 0.90, F1-score of 0.89, and test accuracy of 0.88.ConclusionFitbit-derived measurements show promise for predicting ADHD diagnosis, with machine learning classifiers, particularly Random Forest, demonstrating high predictive accuracy. These findings suggest that wearable data may contribute to more objective and efficient methods for ADHD identification, potentially enhancing clinical practices for diagnosis and management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcha.2025.1504323/fullADHDfitbit-derived physical activitywearable technologyadolescent mental healthmachine learning
spellingShingle Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman
Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman
Unlocking the potential of wearable technology: Fitbit-derived measures for predicting ADHD in adolescents
Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
ADHD
fitbit-derived physical activity
wearable technology
adolescent mental health
machine learning
title Unlocking the potential of wearable technology: Fitbit-derived measures for predicting ADHD in adolescents
title_full Unlocking the potential of wearable technology: Fitbit-derived measures for predicting ADHD in adolescents
title_fullStr Unlocking the potential of wearable technology: Fitbit-derived measures for predicting ADHD in adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Unlocking the potential of wearable technology: Fitbit-derived measures for predicting ADHD in adolescents
title_short Unlocking the potential of wearable technology: Fitbit-derived measures for predicting ADHD in adolescents
title_sort unlocking the potential of wearable technology fitbit derived measures for predicting adhd in adolescents
topic ADHD
fitbit-derived physical activity
wearable technology
adolescent mental health
machine learning
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frcha.2025.1504323/full
work_keys_str_mv AT muhammadmahbuburrahman unlockingthepotentialofwearabletechnologyfitbitderivedmeasuresforpredictingadhdinadolescents
AT muhammadmahbuburrahman unlockingthepotentialofwearabletechnologyfitbitderivedmeasuresforpredictingadhdinadolescents