Assistive Intelligence: Prosthesis or Parasite?
The Dual Nature of AI in Neurocognitive Care The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into neurocognitive care—often termed "Assistive Intelligence"—represents one of the most significant paradigm shifts in modern medicine. Designed to support patients across the dementia continuum, these technologies promise to function as a "cognitive prosthetic," bridging the gap created by neurodegeneration (Mohapatra and Anaraky, 2026). However, for a population characterized by profound vulnerabilities in decision-making and perception, AI introduces a multifaceted spectrum of risks that threaten autonomy, safety, and fundamental dignity. As the commercial dissemination of AI-powered tools outpaces the evolution of regulatory frameworks—a phenomenon known as "cultural lag"—the "cognitive prosthetic" risks becoming a "digital parasite" or even a "digital abuser" (Mohapatra and Anaraky, 2026; Deckker and Sumanasekara, 2025). 1. The ...
