Can AI Prevent Dementia?

I’ve started wondering: what happens when we outsource memory to AI tools? Sure, asking ChatGPT to explain a concept or remind me of a fact is convenient. But could this reliance weaken our brains over time?

That thought feels especially relevant when I consider how memory works. Psychologists have long said that we remember better when we retrieve information ourselves—like exercising a muscle. If AI tools do the remembering for us, are we skipping our mental workouts?

But then I stumbled upon research that flipped my thinking. There’s a growing field exploring how AI might actually strengthen memory, especially in people showing early signs of dementia or cognitive decline. One study trains episodic memory through chatbot-based games using people’s own life stories. It doesn’t feel clinical. It feels like talking to someone who remembers your past. Other tools like CogniHelp use speech practice, journaling, and tailored prompts to keep users mentally active each day. These systems are stimulating memory, not replacing it.

Even more fascinating, some AI systems are working on analysing things like sleep EEG patterns and predicting cognitive decline years before symptoms appear. That means earlier intervention, better preparation, and maybe even more time for meaningful engagement with memory itself.

Similarly, in education, there are so many ideas that can be explored: What if these simple tools could be designed to encourage recall, not just provide answers? Could a chatbot nudge students to remember, explain, or rephrase ideas before revealing the answer?

We don’t fully know yet what makes memory stick or what role AI should play in that process. Some “brain training” apps only help with the games they offer, without broader benefits. But research shows that emotional connection, story-sharing, and routine matter too. These are things that AI can help strengthen, if designed right.

Maybe the risk isn’t AI making us forget. Maybe the opportunity is for AI to help us hold on to what matters, for longer.