Does Mistaking a Name Indicate Dementia or Alzheimer’s for Biden?

Health experts are asking Joe Biden and Donald Trump to take more cognitive tests to check their mental abilities. They are worried about Biden’s verbal mistakes and shaky voice. But they also warn against making quick judgments. 

Experts say that tests could either prove or disprove concerns about the mental decline of the 81-year-old president. These tests could also provide insight into the mental abilities of Trump as he has had made some verbal mistakes. But it is important to understand that accurate diagnoses cannot be made without being physically present. 

Biden did not perform well in his debate with Trump so that many people in his own party are doubting if he can be a good leader for four more years. At a summit, Biden made a mistake and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Putin which is the wrong name. But after that he fixed it very quickly. 

One of the reputed doctors, Dennis Selkoe is trying to figure out if Biden’s issues are just a normal part of getting older or if he has a neurological disease. He said that making a mistake with a name does not mean that Biden has dementia or Alzheimer’s. But he does not think that Biden shows any signs of early Parkinson’s disease such as slow and stiff movements and his quiet voice.  

Biden had a check-up in February. The results showed that he does not have Parkinson’s disease. But there were no specific details given about the tests or their results. If this check-up was thorough, doctors should have detected some early signs of a developing condition. Because brain illnesses take some time to develop.

In March, a scientific journal called Lancet suggested that there should be consistent procedures to check the health of current and future presidents. This would protect American voters from rumors and false information.

The public relies on reports from politicians’ personal doctors without proper testing. This may not be reliable. 

An aging expert, Jay Olshansky thinks that it is important for everyone to be honest and open. He wants the two main people running for president to take a test to see how well their brains work. This is something that former president Trump has asked Biden to do many times. 

There are many exams such as the MMSE and MoCA are available for initial screening or as part of a comprehensive battery. Biden claims to pass a cognitive test daily by fulfilling his presidential duties. 

Selkoe said that doing familiar things is not the same as remembering words. The president might take a brain test if doctors think it is needed. But they have not suggested one yet.  

Getting older can affect the brain and cause many problems that are related to memory and thinking ability. Mild cognitive impairment can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. Both Biden and Trump showed signs of trouble staying focused during the debate and should be tested. A study predicted that Biden had a 95% chance of surviving his first term. But it decreased to 75% four years later.