AI Use Could Weaken Brain Function and Increase Dementia Risk, Experts Warn

The widespread integration of artificial intelligence into daily life may pose a risk to cognitive function and potentially increase the likelihood of developing dementia, according to some experts. The increasing use of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, for tasks ranging from research and writing to summarization, is raising concerns among neuroscientists and psychologists about the long-term effects of "cognitive offloading."

Cognitive offloading refers to the delegation of mental tasks to AI algorithms. This passive reliance on technology could weaken the brain's neuroplasticity – its ability to form new connections – which is vital for healthy aging and cognitive reserve, a buffer that helps maintain mental function for longer. Experts suggest that repetitive learning and engaging in mentally demanding activities are crucial for building this reserve and protecting against cognitive decline.

Professor Simone Rossi of the University of Siena noted in a report published in the journal Artificial Intelligence that habitual over-reliance on AI could reduce cognitive exercise, potentially weakening neuroplasticity over time. He and his colleagues argue that a passive, uncritical dependence on AI may erode human cognition.

Early research has provided some indication of these effects. A study published in the Journal of Computer Science by Nataliya Kosmyna, a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, observed that students using AI tools for assignments retained less information compared to those who used traditional research methods or no technology at all. An experiment involving students writing an essay revealed that those using ChatGPT showed significantly less brain activity, particularly in areas related to creativity and information processing, compared to a group using no technology.

Furthermore, follow-up assessments indicated that students who relied on AI for essay writing demonstrated lower neural connectivity when tasked with similar assignments later, suggesting a potential long-term impact on their capacity to store new information. Similar findings emerged from a study at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where students using traditional resources recalled more information about their research assignments than those who used ChatGPT.

The implications extend beyond academic settings. A study in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that doctors who used AI to screen medical images for bowel cancer became less accurate at detecting tumors manually afterward.

While long-term studies directly linking AI use to dementia are still lacking due to the technology's novelty, some leading experts believe the risk is genuine. Barbara Sahakian, a professor of clinical neuropsychology at Cambridge University, predicts it is "highly likely" that widespread AI use will contribute to more dementia cases. She emphasizes the importance of exercising neural circuits through cognitively stimulating activities, warning that a decline in such engagement due to AI dependence could be detrimental.

Experts like Aimee Spector, a professor of the clinical psychology of ageing at University College London, reiterate the "use it or lose it" principle for brain health. While acknowledging AI's potential benefits, they stress the need for mindful usage, positioning AI as a support rather than a constant crutch. Over-dependence on AI could diminish the active engagement and social interaction necessary for a healthy brain.