Amid the lingering fallout from Joe Biden’s lackluster June 27 debate performance, experts continue to weigh in on possible signs of cognitive decline in the 46th president. The president himself admitted on Monday morning, July 8, that he had a “terrible night” and that he was “really sorry” for what happened.
Judy Gaman, CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas, a luxury medical services provider in Southlake, told Fox News Digital over the weekend that Biden's behavior is a very real health crisis in the U.S
“As a country, we need to talk about the reality of this health crisis: the fact that families are often torn apart by denial,” she said.
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While Biden has not been diagnosed with dementia, Gaman said she sees many of the same signs as her own mother, who had dementia. Alzheimer's disease before her death.
“Someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s really believes they’re OK, and they can get angry when someone else thinks they’re OK,” Gaman said. (She has not examined or treated Biden.)
President Biden is shown onstage during a campaign rally at Girard College on May 29, 2024 in Philadelphia. Amid the lingering fallout from Biden's lackluster June 27 debate performance, experts continue to weigh in on possible signs of cognitive decline in the 46th president. (Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to both the White House and Biden's campaign but did not receive a response.
red flags
Gaman said that based on his speech and behavior, she thinks Biden “definitely” shows signs of a neurological deficit, with Alzheimer's a possibility.
“He stares, loses his mind and is rumored to get angry easily,” she said. “When I look at him, it's like looking at my own mother who had Alzheimer's,” she added.
“As a country, we need to talk about the reality of this health crisis: the fact that families are often torn apart by denial.”
Gaman emphasized that virtually all patients with early Alzheimer's use notes to recall memories.
“As the disease progresses, they need visual aids and instructions to perform even the simplest tasks and remember dates and events.”
Based on his speech and behavior, Gaman, of Executive Medicine in Texas, told Fox News Digital that she believes Biden is showing signs of a neurological deficit. She has not examined the president. Biden is seen here during the June 27 debate with former President Trump. (Getty Images)
Given Biden's shuffling feet and lack of arm movement as he walks, Gaman said that Parkinson's disease could be another possibility.
“If you notice, he's also leaning forward, which is classic,” she said. “Slowed movement, also called bradykinesia, is another classic sign. We've all noticed how he looks like he's in slow motion.”
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Dr. Marc Siegel, Clinical Professor of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor said it's more likely Biden has vascular dementia, which is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's.
“His gait is not consistent with Parkinson's disease,” Siegel, who has not treated Biden, told Fox News Digital.
“In January 2024, he was seen by a Parkinson's expert, but subsequent medical examination at the White House found he did not have it.”
“I think what he has is much more consistent with vascular dementia.”
Siegel also said he believes Biden is not showing signs of worsening Alzheimer's disease, which is typically associated with worsening behavioral problems, delusions and hallucinations.
“I don't believe this is Alzheimer's,” the doctor added. “I think what he has is much more consistent with vascular dementia (insufficient blood flow to areas of the brain) due to his long-standing atrial fibrillation and a consequence of his Brain aneurysm recovery in 1988 and a brain hemorrhage at that time.”
One doctor requested an MRI to determine if Biden has vascular dementia, a form of dementia that involves reduced blood flow to the brain, causing problems with memory, reasoning, judgment and other thought processes. (iStock)
According to the Mayo Clinic website, vascular dementia occurs when impaired blood flow to the brain causes problems with memory, reasoning, judgment, and other thinking processes.
It is often caused by strokes, but can also be the result of other medical conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain.
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According to Siegel, most cognitive tests, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, are designed to detect mild cognitive impairment.
“Biden seems to be way past that,” he said. “I was calling for that from 2020 to 2023.”
Siegel added: “He needs an MRI right now, more than anything. We should ask for an MRI.”
The Dangers of Denial
As for the Biden family's lack of help for the president, Gaman said she sees only three explanations.
“Either they are in denial and have seen this happen for a while, making them less sensitive to the contrast, or they are fully aware of it but can't bear the thought of what will happen to the family (on many levels) if Joe is killed.” no longer president,” she said.
President Biden listens to First Lady Jill Biden speak during a post-debate campaign rally on June 28, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Getty Images)
Or, Gaman added, it could be that they are actually grieving and want to hold on to the hope that he will somehow get better.
“Denial is a stage of grief,” she said. “This is compounded by the fact that they are surrounded by people who are pressuring them not to let their opponent win.”
“This is a medical situation, but of course it has huge political implications.”
As for Biden himself, Siegel said, “He seems to be in denial. This is common with dementia or cognitive impairment, such as depressionbecause the people around you will treat you differently.”
Another possibility, according to Gaman, is that “he probably doesn't know he has a problem, or he's just covering up his symptoms. He may not be consciously hiding it.”
“He stares, loses his thoughts and is rumored to get angry easily,” said one expert. “When you look at him, it's like looking at my own mother who had Alzheimer's.” (Saul Loeb/AFP)
“Therefore, relatives of those affected must act as advocates and protect them from themselves.”
She continued: “Ask any family who has experienced Alzheimer's, dementia or Parkinson's disease, and they will tell you that what we are seeing is happening in a world where Alzheimer's, dementia or Parkinson's disease plays a major role. [here] is classic with most families who are confronted with this.”
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“His story is happening on the big stage. Remember, anyone who stands behind Biden and covers up the truth has a personal interest in keeping him in office.”
If Biden is experiencing cognitive decline, it has failed to help him medical attention According to Gaman, doing anything could endanger his health.
“As a physician, I feel empathy for the president,” said Dr. Marc Siegel. “I've learned to feel empathy for anyone who is sick. This is a medical situation, although it obviously has enormous political implications.” (Fox News)
“There is certainly no cure for Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, but these conditions are often exacerbated by stress and lack of sleep,” she told Fox News Digital.
“From Joe's health standpoint, this is like adding fuel to the fire. From the country's standpoint, we need to address this as a health crisis, not a political crisis.”
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Gaman also noted that if Biden actually has one of these conditions, he may not understand the need to seek help.
“This is a great opportunity to increase funding for research, raise awareness and encourage others dealing with this to come out of denial.”
Gaman noted that she is not pretending to diagnose the president, but is asking the country to open the discussion about neurodegenerative diseases, “especially since the number of cases is increasing.”
Siegel added that he is also concerned about the possibility of depressionwhich can worsen dementia.
“As a physician, I feel compassion for the president,” he said. “I've learned to feel empathy for anyone who is sick. This is a medical situation, although it obviously has a huge impact political implications.”
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If Biden does indeed have a neurodegenerative condition, Siegel said, the symptoms may wax and wane, but “overall they don’t get better.”
He added: “He's likely to deteriorate further, especially under all the stress and criticism.”
