Longevity Science Foundation

What happens to cognition when AI does the heavy lifting?

A recent study published in Social Sciences & Humanities Open examined whether unrestricted access to ChatGPT during self-directed study helps or harms long-term knowledge retention. The trial, framed around the concept of ChatGPT as a cognitive crutch, offers one of the first experimental data points on a question that has largely been left to speculation.

The findings appear striking: students who used ChatGPT as a study aid scored significantly lower on a surprise retention test administered 45 days after learning (57.5%) than those who relied on traditional methods (68.5%). The AI-assisted group also spent substantially less time on the task, suggesting that access to ChatGPT reduced the effortful engagement that supports durable memory formation. These results fit into a broader and increasingly difficult-to-ignore pattern: as AI becomes a default resource for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the cumulative effect on how we learn, remember, and process information is quietly compounding. The convenience of outsourcing cognitive work to a chatbot may come at a cost that does not always surface immediately.

None of this diminishes what AI is capable of: across healthcare, scientific research, financial services, and beyond, these tools are accelerating progress in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. However, the question we should consider is where the line should be drawn. Offloading routine tasks is reasonable, but delegating ideation, information synthesis, and decision-making may present certain health risks. There is a meaningful difference between using AI to challenge assumptions and using it to replace the thinking we should be doing ourselves.

While the findings are thought-provoking and deserve attention, it is important to be mindful that this is a single study with a modest sample and conducted in a specific context. Replication across broader populations and varied AI use cases is needed before treating these results as definitive. What is clear, however, is that we need to be increasingly vigilant in our use of AI, and its impact on brain health at the individual level, within organizations, and across society. This conversation warrants ongoing attention. Learn more about the intersection of AI and cognition from our CEO's panel participation at the Future Proof Citywide conference here:

https://longevity.foundation/news/tpost/oem135ipg1-event-recap-the-lsf-at-the-future-proof

We’ve been running an LSF series on lifestyle interventions for longevity, starting with the big pillars like exercise, nutrition, and sleep. More recently, we added another pillar that’s just as critical for healthy aging: the brain. We began by looking at cognitive training and skill acquisition. Now we’re tackling two of the most heavily marketed brain interventions out there: mindfulness meditation and breathwork.

The claims are big: “rewire your brain in 8 weeks,” “boost vagal tone,” “slow aging,” even “trigger psychedelic release.” So we did what we always do in Hype vs Reality: follow the peer-reviewed evidence and separate what’s plausible from what’s just viral content.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀

▶️ hashtag helps… but it’s not magic. The strongest evidence supports improvements in stress, anxiety, and some aspects of attention/emotion regulation, not instant cognitive upgrades.
▶️ Biomarker effects are modest. hashtag and stress markers tend to shift only slightly on average, more “small nudge” than “full-body reset.”
▶️ “Brain rewiring in 8 weeks” is overhyped. Early small studies suggested structural brain changes, but more rigorous controlled work doesn’t reliably replicate that claim.
▶️ Breathwork can change how you feel fast, because of physiology. Intense breathing can alter CO₂ levels, which explains tingling, lightheadedness, and altered states better than unproven psychedelic narratives.
▶️ Longevity impact is likely indirect. If these tools help people manage stress and sleep, reduce blood pressure, or stick to healthier habits, they may support hashtag .

In conclusion, mindfulness and breathwork can be useful tools, especially for stress regulation, but the most popular claims often run far ahead of the data. If you’re building a hashtag portfolio, these practices make the most sense as adjuncts, while the heavy lifting for brain healthspan still comes from fundamentals like hashtag risk control, physical activity, sleep, and social connection.

If you want the evidence-based version, read the full piece here: https://longevity.foundation/tpost/ckvu8hlrp1-can-mindfulness-and-breathwork-keep-your

No time? You can skip to the end of the article for the key takeaways.

Anthropic has been reported by multiple outlets to have acquired Coefficient Bio (acquired by Anthropic) in a transaction valued at approximately $400 million in stock, although some sources have described the deal as a strategic investment.

The news comes as Anthropic continues its push into healthcare and research, following the launch of Claude for Life Sciences. Available reporting suggests that Coefficient Bio’s team may be integrated into these efforts, with a focus on developing tools for workflows, suggesting a more direct approach to embedding AI capabilities within research environments rather than relying solely on external partnerships.

This is not an isolated incident. Several technology leaders and AI-adjacent companies are increasingly engaging with longevity and biotechnology. Altos Labs, backed in part by Jeff Bezos, is focused on cellular reprogramming, while Retro Biosciences is funded by Sam Altman with a similar ambition to extend human lifespan. NewLimit, co-founded by Brian Armstrong, is applying machine learning to epigenetic reprogramming. Continued deployment of significant capital and resources further illustrates sustained interest from the technology and AI sectors in extending human .

This trend points to a gradual convergence between AI, , and longevity science, driven by the growing integration of computational tools into and development. The LSF recognizes the need to leverage AI’s capabilities to further our understanding of biology and develop tools, therapies, and diagnostic methodologies that address age-related disease. Learn more about the scientific leadership behind our grant-making decisions here: https://longevity.foundation/support-us

Read the full article here: Link in the comments: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/anthropic-acquires-startup-coefficient-bio-400-million