Brain Training Apps for Adult ADHD

What “brain training” apps are—and how they generally work

Brain training apps are structured, game-like cognitive exercises designed to repeatedly practice specific mental skills—most commonly attention, working memory, processing speed, and inhibition (the “pause button” that helps you resist distractions). The basic idea is simple: you do short, adaptive tasks (they get harder as you improve), the app tracks your performance over time, and it nudges your brain to practice sustained focus and goal-directed effort a little more efficiently—kind of like progressive overload at the gym, but for certain cognitive processes.

What these apps are not, in most cases, is a complete treatment for ADHD. They’re usually best understood as skills practice: you’re training performance on specific tasks that relate to attention—not rewriting your personality, eliminating ADHD, or automatically fixing executive function challenges in real life.

How they’re being used to support attention in adults with ADHD

In clinical practice, brain training tools are often used as a structured “attention workout” that fits into real life: short sessions, clear feedback, and a concrete routine. For many adults with ADHD, that structure matters. You’re not just hoping you’ll “try harder” tomorrow—you’re doing a measurable practice session today.

Common ways these tools get used:

• Adjunct to medication and coaching/CBT: you pair skills training with strategies that improve planning, emotion regulation, and habits.
• For people who can’t or don’t want to use medication: some adults prefer a non-pharmacologic option, or can’t tolerate side effects.
• To build consistency and confidence: even small, trackable gains can motivate follow-through in other areas (sleep, routines, task initiation).

A key point: the best use case is usually “improve attention performance” rather than “solve ADHD.” It’s a targeted tool, not a total system.

The FDA clearance of LumosityRx as a prescription digital therapeutic for adult ADHD

In December 2025, Lumos Labs announced FDA 510(k) clearance for LumosityRx, positioning it as a prescription digital therapeutic intended to improve attention function in adults diagnosed with ADHD (with specific indicated age and diagnostic criteria).

Importantly, the FDA listing associated with Lumos Labs’ ADHD-focused digital therapeutic identifies the device classification as “Digital Therapeutic Software For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” under a 510(k) record (with the product name shown as Prismira in the FDA database—commonly how underlying device clearances are cataloged).

What that means in plain terms: this isn’t being sold as just a consumer “brain game.” It’s being positioned as a regulated, prescription-only software-based intervention for a defined ADHD population, with claims tied to measured attention outcomes.

How to get a prescription for LumosityRx

LumosityRx is available by prescription from a licensed healthcare provider (per the company’s Rx portal).

In practical terms, your path usually looks like this:

1. You have (or obtain) a formal adult ADHD diagnosis with a clinician (primary care, psychiatry, psychology, or another qualified licensed provider—varies by jurisdiction and scope).
2. You ask specifically about LumosityRx and whether you fit the indicated population (for example, age range and ADHD presentation).
3. Your clinician writes the prescription and you follow the product’s instructions for access/setup (typically through a manufacturer/prescription workflow).

If you already have an ADHD clinician, the simplest move is: bring it up as an adjunct option and ask how they evaluate fit, expectations, and tracking.

What the research says so far—and cautions you should keep in mind

Here’s the honest neuroscientist view: computerized cognitive training can show improvements on trained tasks and sometimes on closely related attention measures, but generalizing those gains into everyday life (work output, relationships, long-term organization, procrastination) is less consistent.

What looks promising

• A 2025 Nature Digital Medicine paper reports real-world data suggesting cognitive/attention benefits in adults reporting ADHD who trained with Lumosity in non-lab conditions.
• A 2025 systematic review notes that computerized cognitive training can show some cognitive benefits, while effects on broader ADHD symptoms are often limited and evidence quality varies.
• A 2024 meta-analysis of digital interventions found overall benefits across ADHD symptoms (including inattention), though studies vary widely in methods and outcomes.

Cautions you should take seriously

• Don’t confuse “better at the app” with “ADHD is fixed.” Near-transfer (similar tasks) is more common than far-transfer (real life).
• Watch marketing claims. Lumosity historically faced regulatory action over overstated claims in consumer advertising; the prescription product is a different regulatory lane, but it’s still wise to stay evidence-minded and track outcomes that matter to you.
• It can become productive procrastination. If you find yourself “training” instead of doing the hard-but-important tasks, you may need guardrails (time limits, pairing with a work sprint, accountability).
• Frustration and dropout are real. Even the company’s Rx page notes frustration events in their clinical study context (reported as low and resolving), but your lived experience matters—if it’s spiking irritability or shame, adjust the dose or stop.
• Use it as part of a plan. The strongest real-world outcomes usually come from combining: sleep regularity, exercise, ADHD coaching/CBT skills, calendar/task externalization, and—when appropriate—medication.

A practical way to use a brain-training prescription app

If you and your clinician decide to try LumosityRx (or any FDA-cleared cognitive training tool), you’ll do best if you define success before you start. Pick 2–3 real-world metrics you can actually measure, like:

• “I start my first work block by 9:15 on 4 days/week.”
• “I finish 3 priority tasks/week without an all-nighter.”
• “I reduce ‘read-and-reread’ time on emails by 25%.”

Then treat the app as one ingredient—a structured attention workout—while you continue building the environmental supports and behavioral systems that ADHD brains reliably need.

References

1. https://www.lumosity.com/en/rx/
2. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/fda-clears-lumos-labs-prescription-digital-therapy-treat-adhd-adults
3. https://chadd.org/about-adhd/digital-intervention-software-brain-training-for-adhd/
4. https://resources.healthgrades.com/pro/mobile-health-apps-for-adhd
5. https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/brain-training-apps-like-lumosity