A group of researchers is testing the use of a video game to treat the long-term effects of Covid-19 on cognitive functions. The video game is not just any title, it’s called EndeavorRx and was created for the treatment of children with ADHD, Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder.
EndeavorRx is a game that has received certification from the US Food and Drug Administration, which means that to play and use it in therapy you need a prescription, just like a drug. The studies on the title have not yet given totally convincing results but in some cases it has proved to be a useful tool to improve the cognitive abilities of the little ones.
Inside it is possible to carry out a series of tests with increasing difficulty that test the user’s coordination and reflexes, so as to also obtain results to evaluate any improvements.
At the moment the game is being tested at the Weill Cornell Medicine institute to understand its potential as a possible tool to help those who have complained of difficulty concentrating or memory problems after being healed from Covid-19. For researchers, the video game has some factors that make it interesting: it is less stressful than classic therapy, has no particular contraindications and can be provided to a large number of people in a short time without the need for special technology. EndeavorRx, in fact, is an app store game that works with most iOS devices and is activated with a code that is provided when the therapy is authorized.
Video games as a cure is a little discussed but very important field of the sector, both as a distraction from any painful therapies and as a tool for recovery and management of trauma and with the expansion of virtual reality it is reasonable to expect an ever wider use.