Standing beneath the glare of bright lights, delivering a crucial speech to a packed audience with global viewership, the likelihood of stumbling and making verbal mistakes is universal, regardless of age.
Neurologists and experts on language and aging brains recently discussed the verbal missteps of 77-year-old Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. He recently confused his opponent Nikki Haley with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sparking speculation about the impact of travel, long days, campaign stress, and ongoing legal issues on his mental acuity.
Similarly, President Joe Biden, 81, drew attention when he called out to a congresswoman during a news conference, weeks after she had died in a car accident.
Experts, while noting they lack specific insights into the brain health of Trump or Biden, emphasized that under pressure, errors can occur. Catherine Price, who studies brain function in older adults at the University of Florida, highlighted the impact of stress on cognitive performance.
Criticism and jokes about the missteps of political figures based on age bias were cautioned against by experts. Such attacks may deter older individuals with legitimate concerns about memory and language from seeking medical help. Dr. Jamie Reilly, a speech-language pathology and neuroscience professor, stressed the importance of evaluating individuals based on the content of their language output and the consequences of their actions over time.
Both Trump and Biden have faced scrutiny over their mental fitness for office. However, assessing cognitive abilities presents challenges. Cognitive tests are available, but their subjectivity and potential for manipulation make them imperfect. Experts argued for routine brain health assessments by clinicians using measures not publicly available, emphasizing the need for objective evaluations by board-certified professionals.
The discussion touched on normal aging processes, acknowledging that everyone’s brain ages differently due to factors like education, nutrition, exercise, and the overall environment. Price noted that typical age-related changes include slower word retrieval and occasional mispronunciations or semantic errors. Insight into one’s mistakes, along with recognition and correction, can be indicative of cognitive health.
Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, a neurology professor at Harvard Medical School, highlighted that while the risk of brain diseases increases with age, older brains are not inherently inferior. He emphasized the value of wisdom and the ability to integrate facts into a broader perspective, qualities that may be more pronounced in senior citizens.
Maintaining a healthy brain as one ages involves factors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco and excessive drinking, and managing other health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure. Both Biden and Trump reportedly receive medical care, with Biden’s active lifestyle earning him points in contrast to Trump’s less active routine.
The experts advocated for increased awareness of the role of lifestyle in maintaining brain health, reducing the risk of brain illness progression significantly. Waiting until memory issues become problematic is discouraged, as early intervention offers a better chance for effective treatments and lifestyle changes.
The broader discussion centered on destigmatizing age-related cognitive changes, avoiding biased attacks on politicians based on age, and promoting routine brain health assessments for all individuals, including political leaders. Overall, the aim is to encourage a proactive approach to cognitive health that addresses concerns early on rather than waiting until irreversible damage occurs.
In conclusion, the conversation emphasized the need for a nuanced and science-based approach to evaluating and addressing concerns about the cognitive health of political figures, promoting awareness of normal aging processes, and encouraging proactive measures for brain health in individuals of all ages.