
<p>I am not the first to suggest that President Biden should take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to better determine his mental acuity. ; So far, the answer is “no.” ; That comes from the White House staff that claims he does not need one. Of course, they are not only not doctors, but they have every reason to conceal any significant health issues with the President. ; Presidents Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt and Kennedy all had serious health issues that were hidden from the public.</p>



<p>Today there is more transparency regarding a President’s health. ; The results of annual physicals are reported to the public – for the most part. ; But even now, major health issues may be concealed.</p>



<p>Ironically, one of the most critical tests – especially for a President – are never routinely given. ; And that involves the Commander-in-Chief’s mental health. ; Former President Trump took the standard cognitive test – and challenged Biden to do the same. ; The latter demurred.</p>



<p>Most folks over 65 have a rather simple cognitive test as part of annual physicals. ; It involves recalling three words provided by the nurse practitioner … asked about the day of the week and the date … and being able to draw the hands of a clock to the time requested by the examiner. ; (Personally, I think seniors would pass the clock test better than the younger generation who are less familiar with the traditional clock face.)</p>



<p>The Center for Disease Control (CDC) strongly recommends routine cognitive test for seniors – and especially if there are even nominal signs of memory lapses or confusion. ; And we have been repeatedly told that Biden follows CDC recommendations. ; Not in this case. ; The CDC notes that:</p>



<p><em>“Nearly 90% of Americans say that if they were exhibiting confusion and memory loss, they would want to know if the cause of the symptoms was Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, over half of the people aged 45 and older with subjective cognitive decline have not talked with a healthcare provider about their questions, concerns, and fears. Among those whose memory problems were creating functional difficulties, 42% had not shared these issues with a provider.”</em></p>



<p>It should not take much debate to agree that the mental condition of a President of the United States is as important as almost any other health issue – short of a terminal diagnosis. ; A President can have heart problems and do okay – even Diabetes and do okay. ; But mental issues? ; Yet, that is the one test they avoid.</p>



<p>Ironically, we are in an era in which many of America’s most powerful leaders are old … period. ; They are at the age in which mental acuity tends to diminish for everyone. ; Former President Carter said that no person over the age of 80 can carry out the duties of the presidency effectively. ; And Biden will be 80 in less than a year.</p>



<p>The need for Biden to take the test is even more critical since he is showing signs of mental decline. ; The White House dismisses his verbal gaffes as merely the after effects of childhood stuttering.  ; But that does not explain the difference in Biden’s public performances in the past as compared to today. ; There is a difference between some hesitancy during a speech and what seems more like “senior moments” we have all seen in aging and declining relatives.</p>



<p>On several public occasions, Biden appears to be confused – seemingly not sure where he is or where he is going. ; He has exhibited memory failures and exhibited some difficulty in completing a sentence or a thought. In some cases, he never regained his thought – but merely moves on. ; On other occasions, he has paused and then reached in his pocket for written notes.</p>



<p>He recently said that he was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania when, in fact, he never even taught a course there. ; Was this just an example of Biden’s propensity to habitually lie about his background – or some created memory? ; If that sounds extreme, many folks in mental decline not only forget things, but they can believe that something happened that did not.</p>



<p>To see the significant difference in Biden’s performance, just check out the videos from the 2020 campaign – just two years ago. ; He is not the same man.</p>



<p>I am not a doctor, but I can observe early warning signs of mental aging. ; I cannot make a diagnosis, but I can see the need to have things checked out. ; I suspect that Biden’s condition would have to be a lot worse – and a lot more obvious – before any intervention would take place.</p>



<p>I draw attention to the signs, but I sincerely hope that he is okay – and will remain reasonably okay for the remainder of his term. ; The thought of Kamala Harris taking over scares me more than a mildly mentally impaired Biden. ; Regardless … Biden should assure the nation of his competence by taking the mental acuity test. ; Or should he?</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis,</p>

Biden needs a mental cognition test
