Joe Biden’s fitness to run for a second term is in question after ‘senior moments’ during last night ‘car crash’ TV debate sparked a wave of concern.
The President’s jumbled words and a general frail appearance put him in stark contrast to Republican hopeful Donald Trump, commentators said.
Last night is just the latest in a string of incidents that have led many to speculate on Biden’s health. His time in office has been punctuated by falls, gaffes and unusual behaviour, particularly in recent months.
To add to his woes, there are reports that some Democrats are now calling for him to step out of the presidential contest altogether — a suggestion firmly rebutted by the Biden camp.
So can any firm conclusions be drawn on what might be wrong with the 81-year-old based on his performance? We asked one of the UK top dementia specialists, who watched the debate, for his view.
After Biden lost his train of thought at one point and stared ahead blankly, Donald Trump said: ‘I really don’t know what he just said’
Speech: Jumbled words, lost sentences and incoherence
In what has become a much commented on moment of the TV debate, Biden produced a rambling response to a Medicare question.
He said: ‘We’ve been making sure we are able to make every single person eligible what I’ve been able to do with the Covid, excuse me, everything we have to do with…look… I finally beat Medicare…’ before trailing off.
Another serious fumble came when Biden spoke about the the situation on the US border.
‘We had significant increase in number of asylum officers significantly. By the way the Border Patrol been endorsed me, endorsed my position.
‘In addition to that we find ourselves in a situation where when he was president he was taking separating babies from their mothers put him in cages,’ he said
This led to Trump to respond: ‘I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.’
Professor Robert Howard, an expert in of old age psychiatry at University College London, said: ‘Doctors can’t diagnose someone without examining them, but based on the footage of the debate I’ve watched, the freezing and rambling make me concerned that Biden struggles to maintain attention.
‘He’s fine 98 per cent of the time, but there are occasions when he appears to have lost his train of thoughts and others where he can’t stop himself from rambling.
‘These fluctuations and dips in attention are a key symptom of Parkinson’s.’
Parkinson’s is a condition in which nerve cells in the part of the brain responsible for producing a vital chemical called dopamine stop working properly.
Dopamine governs a range of functions including movement and attention, and while medication can help alleviate the symptoms, the illness is incurable and gradually worsens.
Memory: Trailing off, confused gaffes and freezes
Biden’s memory and ability to continue a points were also highlighted by the recent debate.
At one moment, when singling US states restrictions on abortion, he confusingly pivoted to immigration and referred to a ‘young woman who was just murdered’ by an immigrant.
Viewers claimed it was unclear what point he was trying to make.
Other commentators have pointed to several occasions when he has seemingly frozen such as one incident earlier this month where he was seemingly staring blankly ahead as Vice President Kamala Harris danced beside him.
There has been widespread speculation, as a result of these incidents, that the President has dementia.
However Professor Howard said: ‘People with dementia have these symptoms all the time, not intermittently.
‘If you sit someone with dementia down in front of a neuropsychologist and test them, they will do badly.
‘Someone with fluctuating attention will only do badly when their attention dips.’
He said this appears to be what’s happening with the President.
‘It’s just really bad luck that Biden seems to be affected when he’s on show,’ he said.
‘It will also be difficult for those around him. If he had dementia, they could test him and say, look, you’re not fit to carry on as President or a candidate.
‘But if it’s fluctuating it’s only those moments that are a concern and the rest of time he’ll be absolutely fine.’
While both dementia and Parkinson’s can effect the brain Professor Howard said they manifest in different ways.
‘The difference is, with dementia it’s like the lights in the house are blown: there’s nothing you can do bring them back on,’ he said.
‘But with something like Parkinson’s, the power dips, and the bulbs flicker and go a bit dim from time to time.
‘Biden just has a problem keeping the lights on all the time.
‘He looks expressionless and his face has a mask-like appearance. This is something we also often see with Parkinson’s disease.’
He added that people shouldn’t dismiss symptoms such as these as they are not simply a sign of ageing.
‘If [Biden] has Parkinson’s — and I’m not saying he has — you can bet he’ll have seen top doctors and will be on optimal treatment already,’ he said.
Biden appears to freeze during a Juneteenth concert at the White House
The 81-year-old President reportedly ‘froze’ for roughly a minute before his speech became slurred during the event in Washington
‘These sorts of symptoms shouldn’t be seen as a normal part of old age.’
Walking: General stability and multiple trips and falls
Shaking hands is perhaps one of the most well-known symptoms of Parkinson’s, but experts say not all patients develop it.
Falls, which Biden has becoming increasingly vulnerable to, are another sign of the condition.
The President has several unfortunate tumbles over the past few years.
Perhaps the most iconic was when he repeatedly stumbled on the stairs while boarding Air Force One in March 2021 and then again in May 2022.
Another incident, this time in June 2022, saw Biden lie on the ground for 10 seconds after he fell from a stationary bike while talking to reporters.
Other falls have been also filmed and recorded at various events over the past year.
Biden looks back at a sandbag after he fell on the stage at the Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony in Colorado
MARCH 2021: Biden’s first stumble as he bounded up the stairs of Air Force One. The White House blamed the wind for his struggles
Professor Howard said falls among Parkinson’s sufferers not uncommon.
‘People with Parkinson’s get these moments where they freeze up physically,’ he said.
‘They are more likely to suffer falls as the legs can be stiff and movements slow.’
The brain chemical dopamine, which Parkinson’s patients have less of, acts as messenger between the brain and the parts of the nervous system that govern the control and co-ordination of body movements.
A lack of it can lead to movement becoming slow or abnormal with patients at increased risks of falls as a result, and can even cause them freeze completely as if stuck to the spot.
Parkinson’s affects one in 20 people over the age of 85, with age considered the biggest risk factor for developing the disease.
Professor Howard said while he couldn’t comment on Biden’s long term health, if he did have Parkinson’s, he would only get worse over time as the condition was progressive.
‘It’s a terrible dilemma as the majority of the time he’s on point.
‘But you can’t predict when these moments will happen and he won’t be able to function at the level he needs to be at,’ he said.
‘These things do not get better as time goes on. They are progressive. Medications only treat the symptoms, they don’t stop the disease from progressing.
‘Thinking ahead to the next three or four years, it will only get worse.’
