
Apollo Neuro Launches First Wearable With Subscription Service to Address Sleep Disturbance and Reduce Stress
Pittsburgh-based Apollo Neuro has announced the introduction of SmartVibes, a novel wearable technology designed to calm the body and restore balance to the nervous system. Developed by neuroscientists and physicians, Apollo utilizes gentle, scientifically validated vibration waves known as Apollo Vibes to enhance sleep and reduce stress. The device uses both predictive and generative AI to learn about a person’s stress levels and sleep quality, proactively improving sleep and supporting stress recovery.
The SmartVibes technology is available as a subscription for Apollo customers, enhancing their wearables to sense when their sleep is disrupted and soothing them back to sleep in real-time. Over one third of Americans experience sleep deprivation. Apollo Neuro is the first consumer technology device to detect and prevent unwanted wake-ups before they happen.
In early November, SmartVibes for stress relief will be introduced, integrating with additional data sources, starting with the Oura Ring, to better understand the body’s readiness and deliver personalized Apollo Vibes to aid stress recovery during the day. Chronic stress negatively impacts over 75% of Americans’ physical health. By integrating SmartVibes with other wearables like the Oura Ring, Apollo can better understand a person’s readiness and resilience to stress. Based on these inputs, Apollo personalizes Vibes to automatically support the body’s recovery from stress during the day.
Kathryn Fantauzzi, co-founder and CEO of Apollo Neuro, described this development as a pivotal moment in the company’s history. She emphasized the transformational results achieved during the testing phase, with thousands of people experiencing improved sleep and reduced nighttime wake-ups. The goal is to provide people with more sleep and help them bounce back from stress.
The autonomic nervous system’s two branches, the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) vagal branch and the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) branch, play a dynamic role in the body’s health. Apollo utilizes touch receptors in the skin to send soothing vibrations to the brain, communicating safety and control to help the body enter a desired state, whether it’s calm, relaxed, focused, energized, or sleepy. This technology improves vagal tone and balances the nervous system, ultimately leading to better sleep and reduced stress.
A real-world observational study sponsored by Apollo Neuro reveals promising preliminary results regarding the use of the Apollo wearable to enhance sleep and cardiovascular metrics. The study, encompassing a sample of 582 Apollo wearable users aged 18 and above, highlights improvements in sleep quality and cardiovascular recovery metrics. The preliminary findings demonstrate the following improvements: up to a 19% increase in deep sleep, up to a 14% increase in REM sleep, up to a 6% increase in total sleep time, up to a 4% decrease in resting heart rate, and up to an 11% increase in heart rate variability (HRV). The study relied on primary outcomes such as sleep quality and cardiovascular metrics, including heart rate and HRV, as measured by the Oura Ring.
Apollo’s SmartVibes for sleep is available as an annual membership, starting at $79.99. SmartVibes for stress relief will also be included in this membership starting in early November. For existing Apollo wearable customers who don’t wish to subscribe to SmartVibes, they can continue to access the features they enjoy for free.