Video game therapeutic improves attention, ADHD symptoms in adults

Key takeaways:

• Akili’s video game-based therapeutic EndeavorRx significantly improved ADHD symptoms in adults after 6 weeks.
• Attention improved in more than 80% of participants.
• There were no serious adverse events.

A video game-based therapeutic intervention improved attention and ADHD symptoms in adults, according to a press release from the developer.

EndeavorRx, which is manufactured by digital medicine company Akili and is currently approved by the FDA for use in children aged 8 to 12 years with ADHD, was evaluated in a multi-center open-label study.

Among 221 adult participants with ADHD, 83% had a clinical response as measured by the Test of Variables of Attention-Attention Comparison Score (TOVA-ACS). Specifically, they had improved sustained and selective attention at 6 weeks, according to the release. Notably, 36.6% of participants moved into the non-clinical range on the TOVA-ACS.

There were also significant improvements in ADHD symptoms on the ADHD Rating Scale-5, with 32.7% of participants achieving at least a 30% reduction in total score.

Improved quality of life was reported by 72.5% of participants, and only 11 (5%) participants reported treatment-emergent adverse events. None of these were serious and most commonly included nausea (1.8%) and headache (1.4%), according to the release.

“Not only did the benefit of EndeavorRx in adults with ADHD exceed what we’ve seen in kids and adolescents, adults using the treatment experienced meaningful improvements in their quality of life,” Scott Kollins, PhD, chief medical officer of Akili, said in the release. “These data come at a critical time when there is growing demand among adults with ADHD for safe, effective, and accessible non-drug treatments. It is increasingly recognized that current available options are not working, and/or are not available. We are deeply committed to getting this treatment to patients as quickly as possible. We are evaluating regulatory strategies and look forward to sharing more soon.”

Akili expects to report the findings to the FDA later this year.