We’re Losing the Cognitive Space Race

Overview

A former U.S. Army colonel, neurologist and founding director of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office, Geoffrey Ling, MD, PhD, now co-leads The BrainHealth Project and warns that advances in longevity have not been matched by efforts to preserve cognitive vitality. He argues that while people are living longer, society has accepted cognitive decline as inevitable, creating a widening gap between lifespan and “brain healthspan.” According to Ling, the United States is investing heavily in artificial intelligence and defense technologies while underinvesting in the human intelligence needed to create, manage and advance those systems. He cautions that global competitors, particularly China, are making long-term investments in cognitive resilience and innovation capacity.A key focus of the piece is the need to shift from a reactive model that addresses cognitive decline after it occurs to a proactive approach centered on optimizing brain performance throughout life. To support that vision, Ling points to research showing that the brain retains the ability to adapt and improve across the lifespan and highlights the BrainHealth Index, a multidimensional measure designed to track improvements in clarity, connectedness and emotional balance. Read more at The Cipher Brief

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