The mental acuity of President Joe Biden has become a focal point amidst concerns over his verbal slips and other signs, prompting calls from health experts for him and his rival Donald Trump to undergo additional cognitive tests.
These tests are seen as potentially dispelling or confirming worries about Biden’s cognitive state, while also shedding light on Trump’s abilities, given his own history of verbal gaffes. Experts caution, however, that definitive diagnoses cannot be made from a distance.
Biden’s recent debate performance and a mistaken introduction of a foreign leader have intensified scrutiny. Neurologist Dennis Selkoe underscores that occasional errors, such as forgetting names, may not signify dementia but could relate to normal aging or a neurological condition like hypophonia.
Despite a detailed neurologic exam earlier in the year ruling out Parkinson’s, questions persist about the need for ongoing transparency regarding presidential health.
Calls from experts, echoed by publications like the Lancet, advocate for standardized, comprehensive testing to inform voters accurately and counter misinformation. Jay Olshansky, specializing in aging, emphasizes the importance of transparency and suggests both candidates should take cognitive tests.
Biden, while asserting his ability to function daily as president, faces skepticism from experts like Selkoe, who distinguish between routine tasks and specific cognitive tests’ requirements.
Allison Sekuler from Baycrest Academy highlights aging’s impact on cognitive functions, noting that mild cognitive impairment can precede more serious conditions like Alzheimer’s. Sekuler recommends testing for both candidates based on observed issues in staying focused during debates, although current attention primarily centers on Biden due to age-related stereotypes.
Olshansky challenges ageism in discussions about Biden’s fitness, pointing out the absence of an upper age limit for presidential candidates and highlighting the potential strengths of ‘crystallized intelligence’ with age.
His research suggests Biden’s probability of completing a first term decreases with age, emphasizing the need for ongoing health assessment in presidential candidates.
