For the first time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will allow doctors to prescribe a video game as treatment for certain conditions. The game EndeavorRX from Akili Interactive can now be prescribed for children between the ages of 8 and 12 who experience attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
Tech expert Omar Gallaga told Texas Standard host David Brown on Thursday that the game went through seven years of company-sponsored clinical trials before gaining FDA approval.
Though it’s the first game a doctor can prescribe, it’s far from the only one that has been marketed as a therapeutic tool. Gallaga said games like Tetris have been shown to relax players and help with post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies have shown that some games can help improve cognitive function. Virtual reality experiences have even been used to increase empathy.
What you’ll hear in this segment:
– How the newly approved prescription game addresses ADHD
– What VR-based meditation programs offer
– Which brain games can sharpen your wits
