Video games studied to treat late-life depression – Deep Tech Health + Neurotech Boston

UCSF’s Joaquin Anguera and the UW’s Patricia Arean have published a study detailing the use of video games to treat late life depression. They claim that the EVO interface targets underlying cognitive issues associated with depression, and does not simply manage systems. The game, developed by Akili, is meant to improve focus and attention at a “basic neurological level.”

Players in the study displayed cognitive benefits (such as improved attention — a commonly reported challenge for depression suffers) compared to behavioral therapy, as well as improved mood and self-reported function.

Participants played the game for 20 minutes, five times per week, and met with a clinician once per week. The researchers noted that social contact of this nature can have a positive effect on mood. This may have impacted results, and is not related to game playing.

ApplySci’s 6th Digital Health + NeuroTech Silicon Valley conference – February 7-8 2017 @ Stanford | Featuring: Vinod Khosla – Tom Insel – Zhenan Bao – Phillip Alvelda – Nathan Intrator – John Rogers – Roozbeh Ghaffari –Tarun Wadhwa – Eythor Bender – Unity Stoakes – Mounir Zok – Sky Christopherson – Marcus Weldon – Krishna Shenoy – Karl Deisseroth – Shahin Farshchi – Casper de Clercq – Mary Lou Jepsen – Vivek Wadhwa – Dirk Schapeler – Miguel Nicolelis.

Early registration rates available through Friday, January 6th