You Do Not Want to Get This Disease

Is the President experiencing cognitive decline?

Last Thursday, a special counsel exonerated President Biden of any criminal misconduct concerning his management of classified documents post-vice presidency. However, special counsel Robert K. Hur depicted the 81-year-old Biden as a well-intentioned, aging individual with a faltering memory, suggesting his mental capacities have waned with age. Biden is 81 years old. This sparked questions about whether he is suffering from early (or late) stage dementia or Alzheimers.

Democrats immediately launched an aggressive campaign to undermine what they perceive as a politically motivated attack.

Both Donald J. Trump and President Biden are about 80 years. Is Trump experiencing cognitive decline as well? It's not clear, and voters seem less concerned about Trump's cognitive health. That’s probably because Trump's speaking style over the past 40 years makes it hard to assess any potential decline.

He speaks like a salesman or comedian, informally and full of diversions. He never gets into detailed policy discussions. He’s age-discrimination proof.

His appearance, much like his speech, remains unchanged. Biden looks like a totally different person now, because his appearance has altered due to plastic surgery. Trump, however, has consistently used heavy makeup, making it difficult to discern any signs of aging. He’s forever 50 years old.

The looming fear is Biden could be succumbing to Alzheimer's without the American public knowing. It's a valid concern. The risk of Alzheimer's and other dementias escalates with age. The odds of getting Alzheimer's roughly double every five years past 65. If Biden (or Trump) serves another 5 years, he'll be nearing 90. We could face a President oblivious to his surroundings, with the nation potentially steered by his unelected aides, akin to courtiers in a medieval realm. This has happened many times throughout history.

Dementia is Bad

Currently, Alzheimers afflicts 10% of people above 65. That number will grow as more people age. The scary part is we don’t know what causes it and we haven’t developed any drugs to treat it effectively in 2 decades.

I've witnessed a family member suffer from Alzheimer's. It's a devastating ordeal, far more harrowing than many other ailments. The disease feels almost like a curse from a witch or a grim tale from folklore.

As the condition progressed, it was like watching someone slowly fade away, their memories and personality being eroded bit by bit. The impact on the family was profound, as we grappled with the loss of the person we knew while trying to provide care and comfort. It’s a disease that takes away your memories. Slowly at first, but then it rapidly escalates. It is so unlike any other diseases.

The sports writer Bill Lyon kept writing columns during his battle with Alzheimers and shares the details of what it felt like.

William Utermohlen's self-portraits, created following his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 1995, offer a rare glimpse into the self-awareness of those affected by the disease.

Significant advances are being made in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Recently, a new blood test has been announced that can provide a 'reliable' warning of Alzheimer's 15 years before symptoms appear. This situation presents a philosophical dilemma: How would your life change if you knew you were going to develop a severe disease in 15 years? Would you alter your lifestyle? Would you continue with your daily job? Would you stay with your current partner? How would you manage your finances differently?

This scenario is akin to knowing the date of your death in advance. Would you want to be privy to such information?

In This Newsletter

1) Is Alzheimer's a modern disease? Discovered a century ago, we often assume it has been a constant presence, akin to cancer. However, what if it is a relatively new phenomenon? Recent research examining ancient texts was published last month, revealing that evidence for any Dementia/Alzheimer or cognitive decline was not mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman literature.

2) Weak Nations Require Strong Leaders; Strong Nations Require Weak Leaders: It is universally known Ronald Reagan was suffering from Alzheimers while in office. But the nation kept running. The good news about America is that it essentially does not need strong executive leadership because it has a decentralized structure and a strong private sector, as these elements can collectively contribute to the nation's adaptability and resilience.

A Disease of Modernity?

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