Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep MedicineApr 1, 2025

Testing a wearable device that uses changing weak magnetic fields to help people with insomnia

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

Participants using the wearable device reported greater improvement in diary-sleep efficiency compared to those using the sham device.

Both intervention and control groups experienced significant improvements in most self-reported sleep and daytime function measures.
The active group showed a notable improvement in sleep efficiency as recorded in sleep diaries.
No significant change was observed in sleep data assessed by the Fitbit device.
The findings indicate high interest in the wearable device and its feasibility for addressing sleep issues.

Simplified

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Poor sleep quality is a global public health issue. Technology approaches are desirable to patients and offer a potentially scalable solution to improve sleep health. The goal of this study was to test the effects of a novel wearable device for improving sleep.

METHODS: Participants with elevated scores on the Insomnia Severity Index (≥ 15) were recruited from social media advertisements and a university research study website. Eligible participants completed a baseline survey, wore a Fitbit, and completed sleep diaries for 1 week. Participants were randomly assigned to either an active or sham program (ie, same device but using nontherapeutic frequencies). Participants were asked to wear the device for at least 3 hours per day for 4 weeks. Devices were turned to active from 4 weeks until the final questionnaire assessment at 3 months. The primary outcome at 4 weeks was change in self-reported insomnia symptoms. Self-reported outcomes were also assessed at 3 months.

RESULTS: Participants in both the intervention and control groups experienced significant improvements in most self-reported sleep and daytime function measures. The intervention group reported greater improvement in diary-sleep efficiency. There was no significant change in Fitbit-assessed sleep.

CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate high interest in the intervention and feasibility of the wearable device, but improvements in sleep and daytime function were observed in participants using the active and placebo devices.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: A Novel Wearable Device for the Treatment of Insomnia; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05952297; Identifier: NCT05952297.

CITATION: Anderson DJ, Troxel WM, Landvatter J, Baron KG. A randomized pilot study of a wearable device using variable complex weak magnetic fields among participants with insomnia symptoms.. 2025;21(7):1285-1291. J Clin Sleep Med

Funding

Competing interests

All authors have seen and approved the manuscript. Work for this study was performed at the University of Utah. This project was funded by Aether Mindtech, the parent company of the Evolv28 device. Aether Mindtech was not involved in the conduct of the study or presentation of the results. All authors report the presence of financial support and no conflicts of interest.

PubMed

Testing a wearable device that uses changing weak magnetic fields to help people with insomnia

Abstract

Funding

Competing interests

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Funding

Competing interests

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

What Lands in Your Inbox Each Week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief