- Biden has so far refused to undergo further cognitive testing after his concerning performance in the debate.
- Biden has shared far more health information than Trump.
- Neither candidate underwent a comprehensive neurological examination.
President Joe Biden’s health has been a hot topic recently, with Democratic Party figures and donors questioning whether the 81-year-old Biden is fit to serve another term. Donald Trump has received little attention recently because of his age, but at 78, he is the second-oldest person to ever run for president.
In his defiant responses to questions about his debate performance, Biden continues to insist he is in tip-top shape. He attributes his clumsy answers to jet lag, cold and fatigue, not underlying health issues.
“I take cognitive tests every day,” he told ABC News in an interview Friday.
Much will be left to speculation as the president and presidential candidates choose what health tests to get and share. Even before last month’s debate, a Harvard neurology professor said both Trump and Biden should undergo “full-scale neuropsychological testing,” according to The New York Times.
With age threatening to upend the entire election, what do we actually know about the candidates’ health?
Joe Biden
Compared to Trump, Biden has released a much more comprehensive medical update, with the most recent update coming in February 2024. White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor released a six-page report detailing Biden’s condition, test results, medications and vital signs.
According to O’Connor, the president suffers from sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease and a stiffness in his gait. A neurological exam of his gait was “again reassuring” and showed no signs of stroke, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis, according to the report. The president exercises five days a week, weighs 178 pounds and has a blood pressure of 132/78.
But despite the details, O’Connor did not give a traditional interview, according to The New York Times. And her report included no supporting documentation. In February, O’Connor concluded that Biden should not undergo a neuropsychological assessment battery, a 33-item test that screens for dementia and other brain abnormalities.
Doctors told The Wall Street Journal that a single cognitive test isn’t enough to detect problems: Basic tests can measure memory, executive function, language and judgment, but only PET scans and other more comprehensive tests can help doctors diagnose diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Visitor records show that the Parkinson’s disease expert visited the White House eight times between July 2023 and March of this year, meeting with O’Connor at least once. It is not yet clear whether the expert’s visits to the White House were to discuss Biden specifically or about other matters, The New York Times reported.
Despite calls for Biden to undergo a comprehensive neurological exam, he does not appear to plan to do so anytime soon.
Donald Trump
Trump frequently brags about his energy levels — even saying he “performed well” on two cognitive ability tests during a recent debate — but the public knows surprisingly little about the former president’s health.
In November 2023, President Trump’s physician released a glowing but vague three-paragraph summary of President Trump’s cognitive and physical abilities. In it, Dr. Bruce Aronwald said he had conducted “multiple comprehensive tests” and that President Trump’s cognitive abilities were “exceptional.” The brief report continued that all of President Trump’s physical exam results were within normal limits. Dr. Aronwald’s report did not provide any details about President Trump’s medications, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels.
Trump’s weight has been highlighted in the past, with Aronwald noting that Trump has lost some weight but not providing specific figures. Trump was weighed in the Fulton County Jail during his criminal trial in August 2023. The measurements put his weight at 215 pounds, but some have questioned that figure.
In 2018, Trump bragged about getting a perfect score after asking Biden to take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test for dementia. But like Biden, Trump has made serious public gaffes, such as calling the Egyptian president “the president of Mexico.”
Doctors have noted that the test does not measure intelligence and that people without dementia should score perfectly on it — Trump’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in his mid-80s, putting the former president at high risk.
