Singaporean tech startup Neeuro and the Institute of Mental Health have unveiled their home care training program.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT
The digital therapeutic program called Cogo seeks to solve the lack of attention in children from 6 to 12 years old through a guided game of 24 sessions that is combined with the SenzeBand 2 EEG headband from Neeuro. It was developed based on Neeuro’s brain-computer interface technology.
According to a press release, the objective of the mobile game is to move a character through a maze. But unlike most games where users control characters with a gamepad or touch screen, Cogo’s characters can only be controlled using brain waves.
Its paired headband has seven EEG sensors with four individual data channels to track the brain waves of the wearers. These are then transmitted in real time via Bluetooth and captured and interpreted by AI algorithms, the reading of which is then used to generate in-game challenges.
This non-invasive interventional program was tested in a large-scale randomized clinical trial supported by the National Medical Research Council. Following the publication of their findings in 2019, a pilot The program was launched for 20 children between the ages of 6 and 12 who were being treated for ADHD at the IMH.
Neeuro said that based on clinical findings, the optimal and recommended session is two to three times a week for 30 minutes per session, and over the course of two to three months for a total of 24 sessions for best results.
BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT
Each year, the IMH cares for about 800 Singaporean children and adolescents with ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects up to 7% of children worldwide.
Current management of ADHD includes medication and behavioral interventions. A BCI program is now also offered at the institute as an additional home treatment option to address limitations in primary treatment.
MARKET SNAPSHOT
A major player in the ADHD DTx space, interactive akili, recently went public in the United States through a SPAC merger. Offers FDA approval EndeavourRx, a DTx currently approved for children ages 8 to 12. The company is now working to get the product approved in Japan.
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma of Japan has also recently embarked on the mental health DTx space. Last year, he announced his partnership with US behavioral health firm BehaVR to develop prescription DTx to treat major mental health disorders, including social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.
The global DTx market is projected to be worth $13.8 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 21% from 2019.
IN THE RECORD
“In this digital age, young parents are smart and looking for digital aids that can help their children improve their well-being. [ADHD] it is one of the most common conditions we see among young patients, and the first line of treatment would be behavior management therapy where they learn strategies to help them cope better. While professional help may be necessary for some children, others may benefit from an in-home intervention such as the Cogo program,” said Dr. Lim Choon Guan, Senior Consultant and Deputy Head of IMH’s Department of Developmental Psychiatry.
Dr. Guan said they can offer the Cogo program as an additional training option for children with mild to moderate ADHD.
“In addition to the convenience of being able to do this therapy at home and most seeing better concentration, I think young children will also find the game fun,” he added.
