Many moons ago, while conservative pundits were blaming Sleepy Joe’s odd behavior on his brain aneurysm surgeries, I said, “No.” All we can clearly see is a narcissistic sociopath with a mixed pattern dementia in the early stages. Prefrontal dementia seemed to explain his hair sniffing and bursts of anger. Since I have not examined the Occupant of 1600 and am a real doctor, not one who plays a doctor on TV, I declined to go further. Calls for more videos fell on deaf ears.
As time passed, I commented that Joe clearly had an “organic brain syndrome.” This means that most of what we see comes from biological changes in the brain, not psychiatric illness. Meanwhile, Joe avoided prolonged exposure to cameras and microphones, so we didn’t have much to go on.
Then, a column on the “The Free Press” website posted a note from an academic neurologist who felt that his survival required that he remain anonymous. We know how accurate anonymous sources can be (sarcasm alert), so I was rather cautious until I compared this neurologist’s comments with my education and training, mixed with a liberal dose of Joe’s performance at the debate.
Dear Ms. Yoffe,
I read your piece in The Free Press [link here] on President Biden’s obvious neurologic illness.
Neurologists frequently make diagnoses by observation. In fact, most movement disorder diagnoses are made by direct observation or description by patients and families. Mr. Biden has Parkinsonism, an umbrella term that refers to neurologic conditions that cause slowed movements, rigidity, and tremors. By observation, he has a masked face, reduced blinking, stiff and slow gait, hunched posture, low volume voice, imbalance, freezing, mild cognitive disturbance, and difficulty turning. I have seen one video of tremor. All these diagnose Parkinsonism. He would need further investigation by experts to determine which specific disease within the broad term he has, such as idiopathic Parkinson’s disease or another specific disease.
While there is no cure for the many conditions comprising Parkinsonism, there are effective treatments for many of the symptoms. By failing to get a diagnosis, the president is denying himself such treatments, and so worsens his own situation.
At this point, we want him to stay in the race!
Some dumbocrats will stay home and not vote – while the rest of them won’t be swayed until he is lying in state!
The Republicans will hope fully rally around President Trump knowing (and having seen the effects of) the alternative.