Use of mobile applications in the detection and monitoring of Parkinson’s Disease: an integrative review

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor and non-motor functions, directly impacting quality of life. Given the need for more objective and accessible monitoring methods, mobile applications have emerged as promising alternatives in the healthcare field. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the scientific evidence on the use of these technologies in the detection and monitoring of the disease. To this end, an integrative literature review was conducted between April and May 2025 in the PubMed, BVS, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, using Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). A total of 14 articles published between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese and English, presenting original data on the topic, were included. The results showed that smartphones and mobile applications provide reliable resources for monitoring motor and cognitive symptoms, contribute to self-care, encourage supervised physical activity, and strengthen interaction between patients and healthcare professionals. In addition, initiatives involving co-production with patients and caregivers were highlighted, favoring adherence and usability of digital tools. It is concluded that these technologies represent effective and promising instruments in the care of Parkinson’s disease, although further investment in method standardization, large-scale clinical trials, and strategies to ensure greater accessibility is still required.