Akili’s Endeavor Rx, also known as project EVO, was approved by the FDA and can now be legally prescribed as medicine. This video game is marketed to kids ages 8-12 with ADHD and intended to be used as an iPhone and iPad game. Before getting to this point, this game underwent rigorous testing and seven years of clinical trials, studying over 600 children. According to one of the five studies done, ⅓ of kids treated “no longer had a measurable attention deficit on at least one measure of objective attention” after playing this game for 25 mins a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks.

The company claims that these benefits lasted for over a month with mild side effects being frustration and headaches. 

First inspired by burn victims who use virtual reality to distract from their pain, this game was created to provide a compelling distraction when the user exhibits signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness. In 2010, Bayer, a pharmaceutical company, introduced an FDA-approved glucose meter called Digit that could be plugged into a Nintendo DS, which kids could use to test their glucose level. Video games have been used in the past in conjunction with medicinal treatment, but this being the first official prescription video game is a big deal.

While this may not be an alternative to common ADHD treatments, this obstacle-dodging, target-collecting game can be used in addition to current treatments. Video games currently are used as stress relief, entertainment, and have been proved time and time again to have beneficial effects on mental health. Having the FDA prescribed video games may be the future and improve lives everywhere.