Once upon a time, we relied on our memory to recall names of people, songs or movies that eluded us. However hard we tried to remember that elusive memory, we just couldn’t pin it down. So, we waited patiently and, suddenly, when we least expected it, it all came back to us. There was a huge sense of relief at being able to fill in that blank and, if we were in company when this lapse occurred, we waited to tell the others about our enlightenment. Sometimes our joy was short-lived when someone responded with a nonchalant “I got it too”.

And then Google came into our lives with all the answers to our questions. I must admit that immediate satisfaction of curiosity can be gratifying. No more wondering and trying to jog a recalcitrant memory. There is no need to rush to a dictionary if you want to know what a certain word means. You might have a rough idea, but when challenged by someone for the exact meaning, you want to be sure you know what you are talking about. Ignorance certainly isn’t bliss in this case.

Just the other day, I discovered that the actress in the American TV serial Blackish is the daughter of Diana Ross. A mention in another programme stirred my curiosity and I had to look it up. Confirmation of something we are not sure about is empowering.

Back in the day, a colleague was known for his reliance on the dictionary. No sooner than someone wondered if a word had been used correctly than this tome would be brought out and opened to the page containing the contentious word. All the meanings would be read out with a sense of one-upmanship and the words “I told you so” lingered in the air long after the person had gone. There is no need now to look for a dictionary or encyclopedia now because we have recourse to Google.

Immediate answers

However, a British researcher has warned that over-reliance on Google to search for information rather than exercising our grey cells and trying to remember may increase the risk of dementia. He says that it is important to promote brain health and the only way to do that is to use it. Nowadays, he says, we seem to have outsourced our brain to the internet. This is something we should ponder. We often take the easy way out by going online rather than waiting for something to come back to us. That’s because we want immediate answers.

Worldwide, there are nearly 47 million people living with dementia, or a loss of brain function, including memory, thinking and behaviour, according to the World Health Organisation. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Despite decades of scientific research, there is no treatment that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. One of the risk factors identified is social isolation, something which is becoming more prevalent as we retreat into a virtual world.

We read articles about the importance of exercising our brain and some of the ways we can do this is by solving crossword puzzles or mathematical games that require us to think creatively and outside the box. We should thank the teachers who insisted on our learning by heart passages from Shakespeare or long poems. It helped us to focus and rely entirely on memory. Even writing things down help us remember. So, continue writing down lists or, if you find it easier, use the Notes app for reminders.

In light of the risks of dependence on search engines instead of memory tied to the possibility of dementia, I would advise everyone to wait for that eureka moment when you suddenly recall something rather than taking your search online.

Vanaja Rao is a freelance writer based in Hyderabad, India.