At first glance, this is a video game like the others. It is weaving in and out between the obstacles and collect points, guided by monsters of all the colors on flying saucers in a landscape of river ice or furnace. But EndeavorRX is in fact a game designed for children 8 to 12 years of age affected disorders, attention deficit (ADHD). And Akili Interactive Labs, its editor, has just received the green light from the FDA, the u.s. Agency of the drug to market it as a therapeutic treatment. A great first !
Nearly 4 million american children aged 6 to 11 suffer from these disorders, which are manifested by difficulties in concentration and hyperactivity. EndeavorRX should be prescribed on prescription by a doctor and Akili recommends that the child plays twenty-five to thirty minutes per day, five days per week for a month.
side effects mild
This game, according to the press release from the FDA, "offer a non-drug to improve the symptoms associated with ADHD and is an important example of the growing field of therapy digital," stresses Jeffrey Shuren, one of the leaders of the public agency. As for the side effects, they are, according to the researchers, relatively benign. The most common are: the frustration, the headache, the dizziness, the emotional reactions and aggression.
The FDA has reviewed, she said, the data collected by five studies spread over seven years covering approximately six hundred children with ADHD. One of them, in particular, has determined that 30% of young patients " no longer had attention deficit measurable on at least one measurement after having played EndeavorRX for a month. And half of parents saw a marked improvement in the behaviour of their child.
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A supplement to treatment, not an alternative
Small flat, however, this study was carried out by researchers employed by Akili, according to the mention at the end of the text. And they conclude by saying that the findings "are not sufficient to suggest" that this type of therapy " should be used as an alternative to established treatments, and are recommended for ADHD ". The FDA advises, as a complement to therapy and medication. For the moment, it is reserved only for children.
there have been other experiences on the benefits of video games for health. In 2011, we used a game to relieve burn, including soldiers wounded during the war in Afghanistan. It was equipped with a headset and headphones in virtual reality. The 3D game was not very sophisticated – it was to kill penguins and snowmen that were awakened constantly, but the immersion in a virtual world has them distracted and made them forget the pain and the treatment they had to undergo at the same time in the hospital room. Another experiment showed that seniors had improved their attention and memory, thanks to another game that was to lead a car.
now the question is if insurance companies will reimburse the purchase of the video game...
