Science
Should Biden take a cognitive test? Here's what it would — and wouldn't — tell us
It seemed like a sensible suggestion for assessing the capabilities of an 81-year-old man seeking voters’ approval to remain in the White House until January 2029.
To reassure the American people, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked President Biden, would he be willing to take a cognitive test and share the results with the American people?
Biden demurred. In carrying out his duties as leader of the free world, he said, “I have a cognitive test every single day.”
Though the president dismissed the suggestion, medical experts said the idea of having Biden — along with his 78-year-old challenger, former President Trump — take some kind of cognitive exam had merit.
“Let’s give it to both of them,” said Dr. Louise Aronson, a geriatrician at UC San Francisco.
Kevin Duff, a neuropsychologist at the Oregon Health & Science University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, likened the proposal to the long-standing practice of asking presidential contenders to release their tax returns.
There would be several types of tests to choose from. A simple screening exam could involve just a handful of questions and be completed in minutes. An in-depth evaluation could take a full day.
When former White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson evaluated Trump in 2018, he opted for the popular Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA Test. Over the course of about 15 minutes, patients are asked to recall a list of five words, draw a clock with its hands set to a particular time, do subtraction with double-digit numbers, and come up with the names of animals in a drawing, among other tasks. At the time, Trump scored a perfect 30 out of 30.
Whether long or short, a good test measures multiple “domains of cognition,” Aronson said. There’s short-term memory and long-term memory. There’s the ability to communicate through both spoken and written language. There’s attention, comprehension, judgment, reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making and more.
“If a person completely aces a test, that tells you something,” said Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a professor of family medicine and geriatrics at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. “And if they bomb a test, it tells you something.”
A score that’s somewhere in between can be trickier, experts say.
An abnormal result on a cognitive test doesn’t necessarily mean that a patient has a true cognitive problem. In about 10% of cases, it can be chalked up to a side effect of medications, an infection, a thyroid problem, a vitamin deficiency, a mood disorder such as anxiety or depression, or something else that’s reversible.
“The thing we see constantly as geriatricians are medication reactions,” Aronson said. “I can’t tell you how often we withdraw medications and then the person goes back to normal.”
Sometimes it’s even simpler than that.
“I’ve seen people diagnosed with dementia who’ve actually had a hearing problem but didn’t want to admit it,” Mosqueda said. “They couldn’t hear the questions and so they were giving weird answers.”
Some cognitive changes are a normal part of the aging process. Thinking speed is a prime example.
“As we age, we will do things more slowly,” Aronson said. That isn’t necessarily a sign of cognitive impairment, she said, recalling a 101-year-old patient who missed only one point on a test but needed extra time to complete it.
If a patient’s cognitive problems persist, or if caregivers want to get a better handle on the subtleties of their condition, a more in-depth assessment may be in order.
The tasks are more challenging, Duff said. For instance, instead of seeing whether a patient can remember five words after five minutes, a neuropsychologist might give a patient 15 words and see how many they recall half an hour later.
On the MoCA Test, a score of 25 or lower is considered abnormal regardless of any other factors. With a more sensitive test, the results are compared with the performance of other people of the same age, educational background, career history and other characteristics, Duff said.
A person with Biden’s background would probably perform well on a MoCA test even if his cognition has declined, experts agreed.
“In certain patients who are particularly verbal, they won’t remember the word they want but they can work their way around it,” Aronson said. In such cases, a normal score on the test “would not necessarily rule out cognitive impairment.”
Duff said it would be like having an IndyCar driver who wants to compete in the Indianapolis 500 take the same behind-the-wheel test that the DMV uses for 16-year-olds.
“My concern is that a relatively easy test still doesn’t mean you’re up to the challenge of leading one of the most powerful countries in the world,” he said.
This isn’t an issue limited to presidential candidates. It may be appropriate to ask airline pilots, bus drivers, surgeons and other people with jobs that entail a high degree of responsibility to take cognitive tests as they get older, experts said.
“I think you can argue this is a job where your brain should be working pretty well,” Aronson said.
There is no expert consensus on whether to screen all older adults for cognitive impairment. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force weighed the issue in 2020 and determined there wasn’t enough evidence to make a broad recommendation one way or the other.
One of the reasons for the hesitation is that screening tests aren’t good enough, said Dr. Colleen Christmas, a geriatrician at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
“You’re going to catch a lot of people who don’t have issues, and you’re going to miss a lot of people who do,” she said.
There’s also the fact that the aging process varies greatly from person to person.
“It’s incredibly heterogeneous,” Christmas said. “There’s no way to say 80 equals old whereas 75 equals young.”
Besides, no test, no matter how sensitive, can provide a full picture of a patient’s cognitive function. Doctors also need the results of blood tests, brain scans, and information from family members, among other things. If an MRI revealed evidence of several small strokes in parts of the brain that align with the patient’s cognitive deficits, for example, it would suggest a diagnosis of vascular dementia.
“It’s like putting a puzzle together,” Mosqueda said.
Biden may be in a unique position, but his bristling reaction to the idea of taking a cognitive test was pretty typical, Christmas said.
“I think people are so afraid of the diagnosis of dementia that it’s upsetting to have your doctor or a family member suggest that you need cognitive testing,” she said. “It’s a really scary prospect.”
Science
Bodies of all 9 skiers killed in devastating avalanche recovered by authorities
California search-and-rescue teams have recovered the bodies of all nine missing skiers killed Tuesday in a devastating avalanche in a remote region of Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe.
When a catastrophic avalanche rumbled over a stretch of the High Sierra, dozens of law enforcement officers scoured the mountainside for a group of 15 skiers, including four mountain guides.
Within hours, crews rescued six survivors and discovered eight deceased skiers near the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts. Another skier was still missing, but was presumed dead.
After five days of navigating deep snowpack and treacherous weather conditions, authorities announced they had found the body of the ninth victim.
During a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Nevada County identified the victims as six skiers and three professional mountain guides:
- Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nev., a Blackbird Mountain Guide
- Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, Calif.
- Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., Blackbird Mountain Guide
- Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho
- Michael Henry, 30, from Soda Springs, Calif., a Blackbird Mountain Guide
- Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, Calif.
- Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, Calif.
- Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, Calif.
- Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, Calif.
Authorities lamented the fast-moving disaster as the deadliest avalanche in modern California history.
“There are no words that truly capture the significance of this loss and our hearts mourn alongside the families of those affected by this catastrophic event,” Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said in a statement on Saturday. “The weight of this event is felt across many families, friends, and colleagues, and we stand together with them during this difficult time.” Moon said.
The avalanche occurred amid a powerful atmospheric river storm that unleashed several feet of snow onto the Sierra Nevada mountains. First responders maneuvered through the blizzard on snowcats and skis to rescue the survivors.
But the unstable snowpack, high winds and whiteout conditions made search-and-recovery efforts too perilous, prompting first responders to leave behind the bodies of deceased skiers and suspend operations on Wednesday and Thursday.
Authorities carved paths through the deep snow to eventually continue the search, and California Highway Patrol officers found the ninth victim.
The Nevada County Sheriff‘s Office was also assisted by California National Guard, California State Parks, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Truckee Police Department and the United States Forest Service.
Science
Video: ‘Very Successful Day’: NASA Completes Artemis II Launchpad Test
new video loaded: ‘Very Successful Day’: NASA Completes Artemis II Launchpad Test
transcript
transcript
‘Very Successful Day’: NASA Completes Artemis II Launchpad Test
NASA successfully completed a rehearsal to launch the Artemis II rocket on Thursday. The mission would send astronauts around the Moon’s orbit for the first time in more than 50 years.
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“Very successful day. I’m very proud of this team and all that they accomplished to get us to yesterday, and then to go execute with such precision.” “Following that successful wet dress yesterday, we’re now targeting March 6 as our earliest launch attempt. I am going to caveat that — I want to be open, transparent with all of you, that there is still pending work.”
By Jorge Mitssunaga
February 20, 2026
Science
Fourth measles case confirmed in L.A. County; person visited LAX, restaurants while infectious
A fourth measles case has been confirmed in Los Angeles County, prompting renewed calls from health officials for residents to ensure they are protected against the highly contagious virus.
The infected individual flew from Singapore to Los Angeles International Airport on Feb. 9 aboard Singapore Airlines Flight 38. The plane landed at about 7 p.m. following a 14-hour journey, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health.
Over the following days, the individual visited a few San Gabriel Valley fast food restaurants, potentially exposing others to the measles virus.
“As measles cases increase, it is important that residents take steps to make sure they are fully protected,” L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in a statement. “The [measles-mumps-rubella] vaccine is the safest and most reliable way to prevent measles and protect yourself, your family, and your community.”
The health department did not respond to questions from The Times regarding the sex or age of the infected individual, who was described in a statement as “a resident who recently traveled internationally.”
After arriving at and leaving the Tom Bradley International Terminal, the individual visited restaurants and convenience stores throughout Whittier and Montebello.
The individual ate at a Burger King in Montebello, 1212 West Beverly Blvd., on Feb. 10 between 5:30 and 7 p.m. The next day, the person dined at Taqueria El Atacor, 11156 1/2 Whittier Blvd. in Whittier, between 3 and 5 p.m.
The final two stops in Montebello were at Domino’s Pizza, 803 West Whittier Blvd., between 4 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 12; and 7-Eleven, 1106 West Beverly Blvd., on Feb. 13 between 4:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
Those who were in the Bradley Terminal (Terminal B) on Feb. 9 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:40 p.m., or in the eateries above during the aforementioned time windows, may have been exposed to the measles virus.
Symptoms typically develop anywhere from seven to 21 days after exposure, according to the health department.
Concerned individuals should confirm whether they have protection against the virus, either through past measles vaccinations or infections.
Those who are not immunized or are unsure of their status should monitor themselves closely for signs of infection. Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose or red eyes, as well as a rash.
Those with such symptoms are encouraged to stay home and avoid school, work and any gatherings. They should also call a healthcare provider immediately, but not go into a healthcare facility without informing them.
The monitoring deadline for symptoms ranges from March 2 at LAX until March 6 at 7-Eleven for individuals who visited those spaces around the same time as the infected person.
Davis said the most effective way to protect against measles is to take the MMR vaccine. Children age 1 year and older are considered fully immunized after receiving two doses.
“Measles spreads easily and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death,” Davis said. “We urge everyone to confirm their immunity and get the MMR vaccine if needed, especially before traveling. Taking this simple step helps safeguard your health and strengthens protection for our entire community.”
Previous cases confirmed in L.A. County so far this year also involved individuals who had traveled internationally. One of those individuals ventured to Sherman Oaks on Jan. 24, another to Woodland Hills on Jan. 30. The first case had no identified public exposure locations in L.A. County.
Measles cases have increased in the United States as vaccination rates have fallen in recent years, allowing the highly contagious virus to spread in communities with lower vaccine coverage.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 2,280 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. last year, the highest annual total since 1991. As of Feb. 12, 910 cases had already been confirmed nationwide this year — including 15 in California.
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