Akili’s team describes their philosophy on their website as “establishing a new era of cognitive medicine. “The company writes, “[believes] that effective medicine can also be fun and engaging [by] creating a new elegance of virtual medications for others living with cognitive disabilities, through captivating video game experiences. On its leadership page, Akili says its employees, known colloquially as Akiliens, are “committed to challenging the prestige quo of medicine to help others living with cognitive disabilities,” adding that the company is “passionate about bringing next-generation science and entertainment to heavy users. “
Akili’s flagship product is EndeavorRx, which they describe as “a first-of-its-kind mindfulness remedy for youth with ADHD, delivered through an action video game experience. ” EndeavorRx is based on a proprietary generation developed in-house through Akili, who claims that the product “[improves] attention measured by computer testing in children ages 8 to 12 with predominantly inattentive or combined-type ADHD, who have a problem of demonstrated attention.
Based on EndeavourRx’s innovative SSME (Selective Stimulus Management Engine) technology, Akili launched EndeavorOTC in September. The app, available for iOS and Android, is billed as a video game app “clinically designed to treat ADHD symptoms in adults, anytime, anywhere. “On the app’s website, a clinical study conducted with EndeavorOTC found that nearly three-quarters, or 73%, of participants reported seeing changes in their quality of life as a result of the software. Among the highlights of the study, the site notes that 53% of people were able to effectively manage multiple responsibilities at once, while 54% said they were able to keep track of everyday parts, such as keys and wallets, and 60% were able to complete projects more efficiently. in a timely manner.
SSME has been validated in more than a dozen clinical trials involving situations that affect cognition. They come with depression, sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, and even long COVID.
“EndeavorOTC is a virtual treatment specially designed for attention management,” Dr. Scott Kollins, Akili’s lead medical director, recently told me in an email interview. “It comes in the form of an immersive cellular video game that is clinically proven to improve attention and concentration, especially in adults with ADHD. EndeavorOTC is based on the same generation as Akili’s EndeavorRx, the first and only video game approved by the FDA to treat ADHD in young people from 8 to 12 years old.
Our coincided with ADHD Awareness Month in October.
Dr. Kollins, a licensed clinical psychologist who has spent more than two decades on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine, explained that studies have shown that video games “can be very effective in cognitive treatment. problems. “conditions, adding lack of attention. EndeavorOTC” as long as the software is consciously designed as a medical remedy by doctors and neuroscientists. EndeavorOTC, he said, is intentionally designed to “target and stimulate the parts of the brain that control cognitive purposes such as attention. ” Dr. Kollins added that when someone plays games, they are asked to take on certain responsibilities while getting rid of distractions, the cumulative effect of which is to exercise the brain to generalize this habit in real life. The game, he said, is tailored to the player’s talents in real life. time, optimizing the challenge to keep the user interested and improve their concentration.
“We developed the game [and] rigorously tested it in a study of more than two hundred adults with ADHD, and then made it available under the discretionary control of the FDA, as we identified the pressing need to introduce new non-pharmacological products. “Remedies for ADHD. Right now, the most popular treatment is medications, which work well for many other people, but don’t work for everyone,” Dr. Kollins said. “Many other people are experiencing side effects, are unable to combine them with other medications, or are struggling to access their medications due to the existing shortage of stimulants. Combined with the shortage of intellectual fitness professionals, we learned that there was a significant gap between the care requested and the remedy that could be received. Patients simply wanted more options.
He added: “By completing responsibilities while filtering out distractions, the [EndeavorOTC] remedy targets the spaces in the brain responsible for cognitive function, adding concentration, which helps improve attention and daily functioning. The algorithms are tailored to each user in real time, offering a personalized experience and challenging the user to an optimized point to improve specific cognitive function.
When asked about society’s awareness of ADHD, Dr. Kollins told me that it is a disability that is less understood in adults than in children. He said ADHD is prevalent in adults, noting that another 1. 1 million people in the U. S. suffer from it. however, it is not diagnosed or treated. According to Dr. Kollins, there are signs that diagnosis and disability rates have increased in recent years, specifically during the pandemic. Living with undiagnosed ADHD, he said, can have “a devastating effect on many facets of a person’s life,” ranging from their career, interpersonal relationships, intellectual health and much more. What’s more, Dr. Kollins said a big shift is occurring, with an “increase in adults” seeking care for ADHD symptoms. As always, there are still paintings to be done.
The arrival of EndeavorOTC is notable because, as Dr. Kollins told me, treatment methodologies for ADHD haven’t particularly changed since the 1970s. Patient outcomes were also not replaced. A tool like EndeavorOTC “could, therefore, replace many lives. “Dr. Kollins said he’s “excited about the opportunity to raise awareness and help patients think outside the box about how they manage health care,” adding that the opportunity to educate and raise awareness is something he’s “really passionate about” about evangelism.
Feedback on EndeavorOTC has been positive. Dr. Kollins said many patients have said they feel EndeavorOTC has helped them get their lives back, both personally and professionally. He called the comments “particularly profound” in the context of existing shortages of stimulant medications, as well as difficulties in accessing therapy. Many adults, Dr. Kollins said, suffer from ADHD symptoms and feel “relieved” to notice select remedies like EndeavorOTC that can be used independently or in conjunction with medications and more.
In addition, Dr. Kollins cited a multitude of statistics from Akili’sArray by adding the numbers I mentioned earlier in this article. Among the numbers, he said the effects of the clinic “speak for themselves. “
More detailed data on the effects can be obtained online.