Akili says the technology underlying its AKL-TO1 product (marketed in the US as EndeavorRx) is “disease agnostic” and can be used as a treatment for a variety of conditions.
Prescription digital therapeutics are often seen as a means to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but as the pipeline of digital medicines expands, new players are bringing new strategies and new indications to the digital arsenal.
Akili Inc., made headlines and garnered clicks in 2020, when it received FDA approval to market what the company described as the first “prescription video game.” The product — AKL-T01 (marketed as EndeavorRx in the US) — uses a video game format to improve attentional focus in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD ).
Now the company is looking to leverage its video game technology to treat other indications.
Anil S. Jina, M.D., Akili’s chief medical officer, said his company’s approach is different because it is not delivering an existing medical process, such as CBT, but rather, the technology itself if the “medicine .”
“We aim to transform the user-friendly experience that digital therapeutics provides into clinically validated treatments designed to target neural networks critical to cognitive function,” he told Managed Healthcare Executive®.
To create AKL-T01, Akili brought together neuroscientists and game developers to build a video game that asks users to complete tasks while avoiding distracting stimuli. A 2020 study found that the intervention led to improvements in objective measures of attention.
Akili announced last month that it had started a phase 3 trial of a version of AKL-T01 in Japan, in partnership with Shionogi & Co Ltd The product, named SDT-001, follows the same concept as the original AKL-T01, but has been adapted to the Japanese language and culture.
In addition to FDA approval, AKL-T01 also received European conformity certification, which certifies that the product meets the health, safety and environmental requirements of the European Union.
Jina said the product is designed to be used as part of a therapeutic program, for use in conjunction with other ADHD treatments such as therapy, medication or clinician-directed educational programs.
The video game gained traction initially as a treatment for children with ADHD, but Akili touts the underlying technology as “disease agnostic” with possible application to a range of diseases and disorders.
The company is currently studying its therapies in a number of indications, including autism spectrum disorder, multiple sclerosis, and major depressive disorder.
In new data published over the summer, investigators from National Jewish Health and the University of Colorado School of Medicine found that the video game led to improvements in motor speed and executive function in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study also incorporated the use of a product designed to perform a rapid digital assessment of cognitive function.
Jina noted that the SLE study was initiated by the investigator, not the company, and that an SLE indication is not currently part of Akili’s plans. But he also noted that the technology is adaptable to match a patient’s treatment experience and cognitive difficulty, which he said should allow it to be used in a range of indications. “This ability to create unique user experiences allows us to change the experience to appeal to different patient populations.
The company should also, however, appeal to clinicians and payers. Jina said because the concept of video games as medicine is new, the company had to focus much of its efforts on educating stakeholders. He said the company’s clinical data and regulatory approval are an important part of those efforts.
“The need for validated, non-drug options is only growing, and payers understand that,” he said. “We hope that our work with regulators to define the product category, clinical endpoints, and labeling approach will pave the way not only for our future products but for other new digital therapeutics to be more and more in the market in order to support patients and families who need this care.”
Is Xbox good for ADHD?
First, there is no evidence that video games cause ADHD. And one large study from Norway that followed children’s play habits for several years, starting at the age of 6, found that those with more ADHD symptoms tended to play more as they grow. But the large amount of time on the screen did not worsen their condition.
What video games are good for ADHD? ADDitude Approved Video and Computer Games for Kids On the same subject : Amazon Prime Video just quietly added 15 major movies to its library.
- Bad Pigs â Rated E for Everyone.
- Roblox â Rated E for Everyone.
- Minecraft â Rated E for Everyone.
- Starcraft and Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty â Rated T for Teen.
- Guitar Hero â Rated T for Teen.
Does gaming help with ADHD?
The study focused on video game therapy suggesting that it can help reduce ADHD symptoms in children with minimal side effects. Researchers have developed a video game designed to improve attention in children by creating multitasking challenges adapted to their individual skills.
What games are good for ADHD?
The most popular are trampolines, Hula hooping, skipping and Balance boarding. This may interest you : 5 Strongest Versions Of Loki In Video Games, Ranked. These help develop children’s gross motor and balancing skills while also providing the physical release that children with ADHD often need.
What games help ADHD? Research has shown that traditional (free) games, such as Red Light, Green Light, can be very effective. Even crossword puzzles have been shown to increase attention among ADHD students.
Why are games good for ADHD?
Video games reward short attention spans and are designed to prevent your mind from wandering. For people with ADHD, their attention tends to extremes â scattered or â focused â when they are over stimulated.
Can a video game treat ADHD?
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first video game therapy as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, based on research by Adam Gazzaley, MD, PhD of UC San Francisco.
Is ADHD genetic?
Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it is believed that the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in the development of the condition. Research shows that the parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
Is ADHD highly heritable? Parent and teacher ratings of ADHD symptoms result in high heritability estimates (70â80%) [6].
How likely is it to inherit ADHD?
Anywhere from a third to a half of parents with ADHD will have a child with the disorder. There are genetic traits that seem to be passed down. If a parent has ADHD, a child has more than a 50% chance of having it. If an older sibling has it, a child has more than a 30% chance.
Can you have ADHD without it being genetic?
In summary, there is consistent evidence of a strong genetic contribution to ADHD from family, twin and adoption studies and it is clear that ADHD is also influenced by non-inherited factors.
