CNN’s top medical expert Dr. Sanjay Gupta has joined the chorus of voters who want President Joe Biden to undergo rigorous cognitive testing to determine his mental fitness for office.
Dr Gupta argued that aspects of the 81-year-old’s disastrous performance in last week’s debate against Donald Trump were important signs that he needs to be tested for signs of cognitive decline, which can be a precursor to dementia or Parkinson’s.
Dr. Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon, noted the President’s halting speech, his confused rambling, his sudden loss of concentration, his stiff gait, and his lack of facial animation.
This prompted a flood of messages from fellow neurologists saying that “Biden should be encouraged to undergo detailed testing for cognitive and movement disorders, and that those results should be made available to the public.”
The calls from Dr. Gupta, whose network has been a fervent supporter of Mr. Biden, show how a growing number of his fervent supporters are losing steam to the party’s nominee.
President Joe Biden’s shaky performance in Thursday’s debate has raised concerns in many Democratic circles. The White House, for its part, maintains that a cognitive test is not necessary.
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon, pointed to Biden’s mind-wandering, sudden loss of focus, stiff gait and lack of facial animation as reasons for administering rigorous cognitive tests and making the results public.
According to Gupta and numerous Democrats in Congress, Biden had a rough night from the start.
Dr. Gupta saying‘When the 46th president of the United States took the debate stage a week ago, it was clear, even from his first answer, that this would not be the performance he had hoped for.’
After his poor performance, Biden gave a pre-arranged speech at a rally of supporters in North Carolina.
In it, he said he no longer debates as well as he did when he was younger, nor does he walk as well, but he remains a more credible candidate than the former president.
Still, the White House has not put President Biden center stage without a teleprompter since then, and voters will be closely watching his televised interview with talk show host George Stephanopoulos on Friday.
Mr. Biden has some risk factors for dementia.
He underwent two surgeries for aneurysms, including one that ruptured in 1988, a condition that can cause bleeding in the brain. There is some evidence pointing to higher risk of dementia later in life.
Biden has also been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm. Numerous observational studies have found 13 percent more risk of dementia related to atrial fibrillation.
He also has obstructive sleep apnea and uses a breathing device known as a CPAP machine while he sleeps to keep his airway open and prevent daytime sleepiness.
Lack of oxygen as a result of OSA has also been associated with an increased risk of dementia. Particularly for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s.
While the White House press office has worked to dispel doubts about his mental fitness to serve another four years, Dr. Gupta argued that assurances from President Biden’s inner circle are not enough.
He said signs of cognitive decline are expected to be seen as a person ages, “especially in fluid skills like processing speed, attention span and memory.”
This is normal and expected and does not necessarily impede someone’s ability to perform their job.
‘But for a minority of us, that decline is more pronounced and can lead to dementia.
‘Think of this as the difference between forgetting where you put your keys and not understanding what your keys are for.’
The latest update on the President’s health Arrived in FebruaryDr. Kevin C. O’Connor, the president’s physician, said Biden is feeling well and that this year’s physical identified no new concerns.
‘He remains fit to perform his duties and is fully carrying out all of his responsibilities without exemptions or adjustments.’
No cognitive testing was mentioned, although the White House said a neurologist was among 20 doctors who evaluated Biden’s health.
More than 70 percent of likely voters believe President Joe Biden should take a cognitive test, according to an exclusive DailyMail.com poll conducted after the debate
The President was said to have had a cold on the night of the debate, as well as suffering from jet lag, and was later examined by a doctor for a “brief check-up.”
But a “brief check” is not a physical exam, Dr. Gupta argued. And when the White House press corps bombarded press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre with questions about his mental state, she said her medical team felt cognitive testing was “not necessary.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said MSNBC On Tuesday, American voters deserve more information.
Mrs. Pelosi said: “I think it’s a legitimate question to ask whether this is an episode or a condition. So when people ask that question, it’s a completely legitimate question to ask of both candidates.”
‘Both candidates must pass any test they want to take, in terms of mental acuity and health, both.’
And a recent DailyMail.com poll found that seven in 10 respondents said the president should take a cognitive test.
Meanwhile, Trump has said he took an Alzheimer’s screening test called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, a rapid screening tool that takes about 10 to 15 minutes and is used by health care professionals to detect mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages.
It assesses several cognitive domains, including memory, attention, language, visuospatial skills, and executive functions, through tasks such as drawing, naming, recalling words, and performing calculations.
However, this is not the test Gupta says Biden should receive, but it could serve as an “early screening tool for cognitive decline.”
“That’s why it’s important to conduct detailed testing, as it can help determine whether there’s a simpler explanation for the symptoms you’re experiencing or whether there’s something more worrying going on.”
‘We often hear that watching a candidate campaign is the best assessment of an individual’s physical and cognitive health. In 2020, Biden said the job of running for president put him “constantly to the test.” “All you have to do is watch me,” he said then.
Dr Gupta added: “The country is watching now, and that assessment is a cause for concern and a need for transparent testing.”
