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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Shona HastonORCiD, Dr Sean Gill, Katie TwentymanORCiD, Elizabeth GreenORCiD, Dr Opeyemi AgbeleyeORCiD, Claire EastaughORCiD, Professor Dawn CraigORCiD, Sonia Garcia Gonzalez-Moral, Dr Andrew Mkwashi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2025 by the authors.Neurotechnology is a rapidly emerging field with vast potential within healthcare, but also has inherent concerns. There is, therefore, a need to ensure the responsible and ethical development and regulation of these technologies. This horizon scan aimed to provide an overview of neurotechnologies in development and those approved by the FDA as of June 2024 for a range of conditions relating to mental health, healthy ageing, and physical disability. Searches of clinical trials, conferences, journals, and news were performed in March 2024. Relevant technologies were identified through a process of screening, data extraction and synthesis. A total of 81 unique neurotechnologies were identified, with 23 relating to mental health, 31 to healthy ageing, and 42 to physical disability. A total of 79% percent did not yet have FDA approval and 77.4% were at earlier stages of development (pilot/feasibility studies), with 22.6% at pivotal or post-market stages. Digital elements were common features of the technologies, including software, apps, and connectivity to other devices; however, there were only three technologies with an identifiable AI component. A complex regulatory landscape and unique ethical and safety concerns associated with neurotechnology could pose challenges to innovators, though the emerging nature of the field also provides an opportunity to pre-emptively address potential issues.
Author(s): Haston S, Gill S, Twentyman K, Green E, Agbeleye O, Eastaugh C, Craig D, Garcia Gonzalez-Moral S, Mkwashi A
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Year: 2025
Volume: 22
Issue: 5
Online publication date: 21/05/2025
Acceptance date: 16/05/2025
ISSN (print): 1661-7827
ISSN (electronic): 1660-4601
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050811
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22050811
PubMed id: 40427924
Data Access Statement: The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article/Appendix A. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author
