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Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how our brains age. For many, especially those with a family history of dementia, there’s a quietly terrifying moment—the first time you feel like you’re “losing it.” Maybe it’s forgetting a name, the stats of a player at bat during a baseball game, or the name or age of an actor in a movie you’re watching. Those little lapses, especially when they happen gradually, can make you panic. You start worrying: is this just normal aging, or something more serious?

I’ve been exploring something that I believe could be a game-changer for this stage of life: AI. I use it every day, all day, for everything—from simple questions like those baseball stats or the name of an actor, to more complex problems I want to understand. The effect has been incredible. It’s like working out a muscle: the more I use it, the stronger it gets.

I want to be very clear: I am in no way suggesting that AI is a cure for dementia, and it isn’t magic. That would be an insult to people who are facing this disease in their families. What I’m sharing is my own experience of how daily engagement with AI has helped me feel sharper, more confident, and mentally active, and I’ve even noticed that I sleep through the night more easily. It’s like discovering a secret weapon I didn’t know I had. AI is a tool for cognitive exercise and learning—not a treatment.

In the beginning, many people experience what scientists call subjective cognitive decline. You feel like your memory is slipping, but standard tests don’t pick up anything yet. For someone with dementia in their family, this period is especially frightening. Many people start to pull back from activities, avoiding situations where they might forget something. But that’s exactly the wrong thing to do. The brain works like a muscle: if you stop using it, it weakens.

AI gives you a simple, immediate way to fight that. Every time you forget a name, a fact, or a detail, you can ask AI. It gives you the answer instantly, but more importantly, it reinforces your memory through repetition. You don’t just get the information once—you encode it again and again. That process strengthens neural pathways, just like lifting weights strengthens your muscles.

Some people might say, “But what about people who read every day? Don’t they still get dementia?” My answer is, reading isn’t the same as learning. Reading is passive; it doesn’t demand that you solve a problem, retrieve a name, or apply knowledge. Using AI is active. You’re thinking, questioning, retrieving, and reinforcing. It’s like the difference between watching someone else lift weights and actually lifting the weights yourself.

I see this in my own life. I’ve always been terrible with names and certain words. For years, I couldn’t quickly pull up the name of doctors who practice in a more natural, root-cause approach—”functional doctors.” But after researching and using that term repeatedly with AI, I no longer have trouble recalling it. That’s just one of many examples where using AI has actually strengthened my memory, not just handed me an answer.

One of the most interesting things I’ve noticed is how AI learns and grows with you. The more you use it, the more it gets to know you—your preferences, your interests, even your thought patterns—almost like a friend would. That’s incredibly powerful for learning, memory, and problem-solving. At the same time, I’ve noticed a divide forming between people who embrace AI and people who don’t. Some use it every day, ask questions constantly, explore new ideas, and actively engage. They’re becoming extremely knowledgeable, curious, and confident. Others avoid it, sometimes even rail against it. Their thoughts are often anchored in old opinions, misconceptions, or fear of change. They miss out on the opportunity to engage their brains in new ways and grow alongside this tool. It’s not just about technology—it’s about mindset.

I can see a day when AI isn’t just on phones or computers, but in every room of a nursing home or household. Imagine an AI system prompting you to think about your day, reminding you of family members or friends, telling stories, and giving you learning exercises. Imagine it speaking in the voice of a loved one—a passed spouse, a parent, or even your own voice from years ago. We now know through brain wave studies that familiar voices light up the brain in ways neutral voices can’t. Emotional memory is powerful. Familiar voices provide comfort, reduce anxiety, and strengthen memory recall. AI could combine cognitive training with emotional support, helping people stay sharp and engaged, even when memory begins to slip.

I’ve noticed another thing: the more I use AI, the better I sleep. That’s no coincidence. Learning new information and solving problems during the day promotes deep sleep at night, when the brain consolidates memories. It’s like repair and recovery for the mind—another way AI strengthens cognitive function over time.

Look at people like Warren Buffett or Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They stay sharp well into their 80s and 90s. Is it genetics? Maybe. But more importantly, it’s lifelong engagement. Buffett reads, analyzes, and makes decisions every day. Ginsburg argued cases, wrote opinions, and kept learning until the very end. Mental exercise, curiosity, and purpose—those are what truly keep the brain young. AI gives us a tool to replicate that engagement, no matter your age.

This active engagement with AI isn’t just about facts or names; it’s about real-world learning and applying knowledge. For example, I love collecting 19th century and early 20th century American oil paintings. In the past, I relied on experience, dozens of reference guides, and professional appraisers to identify artists and values. Now, I can upload a picture of a painting, along with shots of the signature, texture, and style, and AI can usually identify the artist and give an estimated value. In the last year alone, I’ve found 23 valuable paintings on internet sales sites like eBay from sellers who didn’t even know the artist. It’s an incredible way to learn, analyze, and make decisions, and it strengthens my brain because I’m actively thinking, researching, and applying knowledge.

AI isn’t a cure, and it isn’t magic. But as a daily companion, it can change how we age. It can provide memory support, lifelong learning, emotional connection, and mental exercise—all in one. For those in the early stages of cognitive decline, it could be the difference between withdrawal and engagement, between fear and curiosity, between decline and sustained mental fitness. I share this because I believe it should be studied more. And for me, at 69, it has made me feel sharper, more confident, mentally active, and even sleep through the night—almost like discovering a secret weapon I didn’t know I had.

I see a future where AI helps every older adult maintain curiosity, memory, and connection. It could be in homes, in nursing facilities, and in daily life—our personal trainers for the brain. If you’re at that stage where you’re noticing little lapses, don’t panic. Engage. Ask questions. Explore. Learn. And let AI be your gym, your coach, and maybe even the comforting voice that keeps your mind strong.