Experts Call for Transparency as Doctors Request Cognitive Tests for President Biden
In a stunning turn of events, doctors have requested that President Joe Biden undergo cognitive tests and make the results public to prove his fitness to serve. This comes after a week filled with gaffes that have raised concerns about the President’s mental acuity. Experts are emphasizing the need for transparency from the White House regarding the President’s cognitive health, especially after the Department of Justice described Biden, who is 81 years old, as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”
The gold-standard test for dementia is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a 10-minute test that was created in 1996 to identify mild cognitive dysfunction, a precursor to dementia. The test assesses various cognitive functions such as concentration, attention, memory, language, calculations, orientation, executive functions, and visual skills. Former President Donald Trump famously scored a perfect 30 out of 30 on the MoCA test back in 2018 and has been urging President Biden to take the test as well.
The results of Biden’s most recent physical did not indicate that he had undergone any kind of cognitive assessment like the MoCA. A score above 26 on the test is considered “normal,” while anything lower raises concerns. The average score on the MoCA is 27.4, with individuals with mild cognitive impairment scoring an average of 22.1 and Alzheimer’s patients scoring around 16.
The MoCA test, which is available in 55 languages and dialects, has gained worldwide recognition as one of the most respected methods of assessing cognitive health. It can even be adapted for testing illiterate patients and in different cultural settings by changing certain references. If a patient fails the MoCA or shows more subtle impairments, further neuropsychological tests are recommended.
The recent DOJ report describing Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory” has raised concerns among doctors. Forgetting significant events like the death of a loved one is considered a hallmark of cognitive decline and a precursor to dementia. Doctors are calling for President Biden to take cognitive tests to “prove to the public” that he is mentally sound.
A new NBC poll revealed that 62 percent of voters have major concerns about Biden’s mental and physical health. This is not the first time such concerns have been raised. In February 2022, 37 GOP lawmakers signed a letter calling on Biden to undergo a formal cognitive screening.
Former President Donald Trump, during his time in office, received a perfect score of 30 on the MoCA test. He was the first US president to undergo the test as part of his presidential physical. Trump has been vocal about Biden’s need to take the test, stating that Biden “didn’t take a cognitive test because he couldn’t pass one.”
In light of these developments, many are wondering if they could pass the cognitive test that experts are urging Biden to take. The MoCA test consists of various tasks that assess different cognitive abilities. For example, one task involves pairing numbers and letters in ascending order while drawing connect-the-dots lines. Another task requires drawing a cube and a clock accurately. There are also tasks that assess memory, attention, verbal fluency, and abstraction skills.
The scoring of the test is based on the accuracy of the patient’s responses. A total score is calculated, and different ranges indicate different levels of cognitive health. A score around 16 is indicative of cognitive health similar to that of an Alzheimer’s patient, while a score around 22 suggests mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A score above 26 is considered normal, and a perfect score is 30.
As the debate surrounding President Biden’s cognitive health continues, the call for transparency and cognitive testing grows louder. The results of these tests could provide reassurance to the public and address concerns about the President’s mental acuity. Only time will tell if President Biden will heed these calls and undergo the cognitive tests that experts are recommending.
