Project Evo forces users to exercise different aspects of their cognitive function, like reaction time and impulse control, before feeding the data it collects to a physician, who is able to make a diagnosis.

The app, which was developed at the University of California by Dr. Adam Gazzaley, has been produced by "electronic medicine" company, Akili.

"At Akili, we're in the process of building clinically-validated cognitive therapeutics, assessments, and diagnostics that look and feel like high-quality video games," the company's website reads.

"Our aim is to develop a new type of electronic medicine that can be deployed remotely directly to any patient anywhere, prescribed and tracked by physicians, with the potential to be developed at a fraction of the cost of traditional medical approaches."

Akili Chief Operative Officer  Eddie Martucci told the Daily Dot that Project Evo could potentially be more effective than traditional cognitive testing because playing a mobile game wads a more interesting and familiar experience than undertaking a clinical assessment, which normally involves short-term memory tests.

"Typical cognitive assessments are extremely boring," Martucci said.

"The data sometimes is not very good … there is high noise in the system because people aren't engaged on the task … It's an unnatural experience."

Users of the app are guided through four different timed "worlds". Users are required to play the game for 30 to 45 minutes a day, five days a week, in order for sufficient data to be recorded.

Although the app is still subject to clinical trials, Akili has received a significant amount of interest from some of the industry's big players.

The company has partnered with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, while Autism Speaks, America's peak autism advocacy body, agreed to start doing clinical trials of the technology earlier this year.