Recent research conducted by teams from Carnegie Mellon University, Oxford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) highlights the cognitive costs associated with using artificial intelligence (AI) for problem-solving. The study found that participants who utilized AI for just ten minutes on a fraction-based math test showed initial performance improvements. However, when AI access was removed, their solution rates dropped by 20%, and they were twice as likely to skip questions compared to those who never used AI. The study emphasized that while AI can enhance immediate performance, it can also create a dependency that undermines independent cognitive abilities. Notably, 61% of the AI-assisted participants sought direct answers from AI, leading to poorer outcomes. The authors caution that even brief exposure to AI could have profound long-term effects on cognitive skills essential for lifelong learning. With 56% of US adults using AI tools, the implications of these findings are significant, raising concerns about the potential for a 'dementia crisis' linked to AI reliance.