Over the years, video games have been the subject of much debate on how it makes a difference in children and teenagers. Will it teach them addictive behaviors? Will they become anti-social? Will it destroy their brain cells?
What if video games were used for medical purposes?
One particular company is using the gaming technology specifically as a medical tool to help kids who have certain medical conditions.
Last year, on June 15th, 2020, Akili Interactive made history when the FDA website announced that it permitted marketing of the first game-based digital therapeutic device to improve attention function in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
On May 26th of this year, Akili Interactive, maker of EndeavorRx, the first and only prescription video game treatment, announced $160M in combined equity and debt financing. Akili is a pioneer of a new class of medicine and treatments that are not only effective and clinically-validated but that deliver amazing experiences to patients. Akili also closed a credit facility for up to $50M with Silicon Valley Bank that provides for an optimal capital structure.
“Akili set the bar high when we set out to challenge the status quo of medicine in 2011. Since then, we’ve developed a completely new treatment category that has the potential to help hundreds of millions of people living with cognitive impairments,” said Eddie Martucci, PhD, Akili’s co-founder and CEO. “This latest round of funding enables us to take another meaningful step towards delivering on this promise to patients, and fully realize the potential of digital treatments. Beyond treating disease, digital therapeutics of the future will be data-rich, adapt to the unique needs and preferences of each user, deliver amazing experiences, and even integrate into our everyday lives. We look forward to continuing to make the future of medicine a reality for patients.”
EndeavorRx Trailer:
The EndeavorRx app is a digital treatment indicated to improve attention function as measured by computer-based testing in children ages 8-12 years old with primarily inattentive or combined-type ADHD who have a demonstrated attention issue and should be considered for use as part of a therapeutic program.
Evaluated in over 600 children with ADHD across 5 clinical studies over a 7 year period, the EndeavorRx treatment uses sensory stimuli and simultaneous motor challenges designed to target areas of the brain that play a key role in attention function.
On the EndeavorRX website, you will find step by step instructions on the process of a child being prescribed this video game.
The schedules are set for how many weeks or months this video game will be prescribed, depending on the needs of the child. They do stress that this video game prescription is not meant to replace any sort of medication the child may be on, but to instead work in combination.
Here are three testimonial videos:
This could be another fun way for someone with ADHD to develop skills that are more challenging to overcome. What do you think? Do you think you would consider looking into this for your child?
Source Photos & Info: EndeavorRx, YouTube, Akili Interactive, FDA
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