Are We Losing Our Minds? The Concern Over Cognitive Decline

Like many of us, I will occasionally (ok, more than occasionally) find myself walking into a room only to realize I have forgotten why. We have come to accept this as a normal part of aging. But should we?

While I was listening to a Diary of a CEO podcast the other day, I was alarmed at some of the statistics that were shared by the two guests: Dr. Daniel Amen, a renowned brain expert and author and Dr. Terry Sejnowski, a pioneering expert in computational neuroscience (don’t ask me what that means). The host, Steven Bartlett, started the episode by sharing a recent study done by MIT. The study was small, only 46 subjects were used, but as a peer review (the gold standard for evaluation) can take months to complete, MIT was keen to share their findings, however comparatively
small the sample.

Three groups were asked to write essays on various topics. One group used ChatGPT, one used Google AI and one did not use any AI assistance whatsoever and relied on good old-fashioned brain power. The findings, not surprisingly, showed that the group that did not use any AI assistance had the highest recall of what they wrote, and the highest cognitive connection to the content produced – the material still resonated with them, they absorbed it, and they learned something new in the process. The other two groups did not fare as well. The reason this study was being discussed was that these two brain experts are concerned about the potential for what is being called “digital dementia.” They were not demonizing AI, just highlighting the importance of using AI as a tool, rather than as a crutch that with overuse has the potential to “corrode our brains.” With more and more kids using AI from a young age, the risk of this happening seems
to be increasing.

As a health coach who works primarily with people over 50, I am often learning about ways we can stay strong and agile of mind, body, and soul. I have frequently heard that our level of education has been correlated to our risk of dementia; for example, those who didn’t finish high school are at a higher risk of experiencing some form of cognitive decline than someone who finished college. On a deeper dive however, it doesn’t seem to be the schooling itself, but the use of our brain. The brain, while not a muscle, is very much susceptible to the old adage, use it or lose it. This doesn’t have to mean going back to school, but it does mean keeping our minds agile. This can include taking on a new hobby, doing Sudoku, learning a new language, playing games, etc.

According to The Alzheimer’s Society UK, there are steps we can take to lowering our risk of dementia. These include getting regular exercise, not smoking, drinking less alcohol, and staying mentally and socially active. We’re all familiar with the many ways social isolation is said to be harmful. Well, let’s add increasing our risk of dementia to that ever-growing list. As the U.S. Against Alzheimer’s Association recently shared, 1 in every 3 cases of dementia are preventable. 1 in 3! 

While some might find these numbers depressing, I choose to look at them as an opportunity for growth. We can take the helm and be a mental mariner in our journey to cognitive health. I often talk with my clients about this very issue. What can we do now, that our future selves will thank us for? In this case, it is treating our minds with the same intention we apply to our bodies; we want to keep them fit, strong, active, and working in the most efficient way possible for as long as we can.

The UCSB Center for Aging and Longevity Studies (CALS) even goes as far as saying, “A large number of age-driven diseases, including cardiovascular, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, could be simultaneously ameliorated simply with the single intervention of slowing the aging clock. Further, recent biological discoveries indicate that it may even be possible to turn the clock backwards – that is, to reverse aspects of age-related decline and reclaim at least some elements of youthfulness, a prospect that is encompassed by ongoing research in CALS.” This aligns with the work of scientists such as Dr. Peter Attia (author of Outlive) – research that suggests that, while getting older is inevitable, aging itself doesn’t have to be. This is where our environmental and lifestyle choices come into play.

We spend so much time perfecting our overnight oats recipe, smoothie bowls and seven-step skincare regime; the idea is that we pay equal or even more attention to the brain’s own anti-aging protocols. Attia’s approach to this brain-buffing enterprise incorporates exercise, nutrition, sleep, emotional health, strength training, and stress management. Part of mental and emotional health, he argues, includes social engagement. 

While the approaches may vary, the first consensus is that we need to be mindful (yes, I get it) of our cognitive health. Be aware of staying aware. Perhaps then pick one lane to try out. One round of Wordle per night? Ten minutes of Duo learning the language you have always wanted to speak? The idea is to be active rather than passive. DO something that uses your brain rather than something that entertains you, such as scrolling or watching 17 straight episodes of Hacks. 

In the meantime, I rely on my calendar app for reminders such as, “Article Deadline,” “Take Calcium,” “Feed Family,” and “Stop Watching Hacks, Deann.” Don’t judge.