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Kim et al. Soft Sci. 2026, 6, 26 Page 5 of 9

Subsequent advances extended hybrid sensing platforms toward clinically relevant hemodynamic and
metabolic endpoints. An epidermal patch integrating ultrasonic transducers for blood pressure and heart rate
with electrochemical sensors for glucose, lactate, caffeine, and alcohol, demonstrated simultaneous
monitoring of cardiovascular and biochemical dynamics during daily activities . Such combined
[38]
monitoring is particularly relevant for older adults, where dehydration, infection, medication intake, or
metabolic imbalance often manifests as coordinated rather than isolated changes in a single parameter.

Hybrid sensing has also diversified into unobtrusive form factors optimized for long-term adherence.
Accordingly, different wearable form factors can be employed depending on the anatomical locations best
suited for acquiring specific physiological signals. For example, the ear offers a rich source of brain and body
biosignals towards continuous cognitive and metabolic health monitoring. An in-ear multimodal sensor,
integrating brain electrophysiology with electrochemical lactate sensing, enabled continuous assessment of
neurophysiological state alongside metabolic dynamics in real-world settings . When combined with
[39]
stimulation mechanisms, such systems open opportunities for personalized neurotherapeutic strategies .
[40]
This brain–body integration is particularly compelling in geriatric care, where cognitive decline and
metabolic dysregulation frequently co-evolve.

Wrist-worn and minimally invasive hybrid platforms further extend multimodal monitoring for chronic
disease management. A flexible wristband integrating microneedle-based interstitial sensing with
cardiovascular monitoring enabled simultaneous metabolic and hemodynamic tracking in individuals with
diabetes , addressing limitations of single-parameter glucose monitoring in multimorbid older adults.
[41]

Finally, advances in sweat interfacing and microfluidics have improved the reliability of biochemical sensing
in hybrid systems. A bioinspired microfluidic wearable enabled multiday, multiplexed metabolic monitoring
under low-sweat conditions , providing infrastructure for hybrid integration.
[42]
Collectively, these studies demonstrate a shift from isolated wearable measurements to integrated chem–phys
platforms for longitudinal monitoring. In geriatric populations, hybrid wearables improve interpretability
and early detection beyond episodic care.

POTENTIAL OF WEARABLE HYBRID PLATFORMS FOR GERIATRIC CARE
A defining challenge in geriatric medicine is that many age-associated diseases - including neurodegenerative
disorders, cardiometabolic dysfunction, and frailty - progress gradually and manifest as coupled changes
across physical function, biochemical regulation, and therapeutic response during daily life. Because these
transitions unfold continuously outside clinical settings, episodic assessments often fail to capture
meaningful dynamics. In the perspective of continuous monitoring, unlike single-modality wearables, hybrid
sensors simultaneously measure multiple physiological and biochemical parameters, improving the reliability
and predictive accuracy of health assessment.

In conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, the symptom severity fluctuates with medication timing, activity
level, stress, and sleep, while disease progression itself is slow and heterogeneous. Wearable hybrid platforms
that combine motion sensing, electrophysiology, and biochemical monitoring of therapeutic drugs or
stress-related biomarkers can capture these dynamics. By preserving ecological validity and providing high
temporal resolution, wearable systems allow clinicians to interpret motor symptoms in the context of
concurrent biochemical state rather than relying on sparse clinical snapshots.

The clinical impact of hybrid sensors will depend on their capacity to support personalized and adaptive