Israel-based game developer, Intendu, has launched a rehabilitation video game – called the Functional Brain Trainer – to help people recover from cognitive impairment. According to the developer, the game is the first motion-interaction, adaptive platform incorporating cognitive training for patients recovering from traumatic brain injury, stroke, and a whole host of other neurological conditions.
“Our mission is to provide tools for effective, accessible and affordable brain rehabilitation at the clinic and at home,” said Dr. Son Preminger, Intendu’s CEO and founder. “Therapists have limited training tools that engage the patients in daily living scenarios, and lack tools that can adapt to patients’ needs and capabilities in real time.
“The brain rehabilitation community faces a significant challenge in providing proper tools for patients to continue their cognitive rehabilitation after they have completed rehabilitation treatment. Patients are left without any rehabilitation therapy in their home environment, which leads to limited recovery and even deterioration. The Functional Brain Trainer seeks to provide that tool set.”
A press release issued by the company claims the game can improve attention, inhibition, self-initiation, memory and multitasking in patients recovering from brain injuries. The Shepherd Center in Atlanta is already using the Functional Brain Trainer, along with a few other rehabilitation centers.
According to Dalise Robinson, The Shepherd Center’s speech and language clinical manager, “The adaptive nature of the games allows patients of various levels to be engaged and challenged by the software. The body motion component makes the game experience more realistic and patients like it. We are currently using the Functional Brain Trainer and the feedback of both therapists and patients is very positive. We see also a great potential for the product in the home environment.”
As video game technology continues to advance, so does the interest in harnessing these technologies to aid in rehabilitation and treatment of neurological disorders. The increased incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is also driving therapeutic video game development forward. The Department of Veterans Affairs currently use video games depicting battle scenes as a therapeutic tool to aid in their patients’ recovery.
The launch of Intendu’s Functional Brain Trainer follows a study conducted by Boston-based Akili Interactive, which tested the effectiveness of their video game on ADHD patients. Their clinical trial – which involved 80 children diagnosed with ADHD – found that the company’s tablet-based game showed promise in treating the condition, even in children who were unmedicated.
Sources:
- Israel’s Intendu launches video game for rehabilitation from cognitive impairment – http://www.fiercemedicaldevices.com/story/israels-intendu-launches-video-game-rehabilitation-cognitive-impairment/2015-11-06
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