President Biden was seen boarding Air Force One in Delaware on Tuesday, marking the first time he has been seen in public since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on July 17. 

The president held a mask in one hand as he gave onlookers a thumbs-up and a salute before disappearing into the plane.

“His walking on the stairs looks fine, better than usual, but it’s strange that he didn’t say hello to anyone,” Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, told Fox News Digital. “All his energy went into walking.”

The president is headed to Washington, D.C., where he is scheduled to make a speech to the American public on Wednesday night.

DOCTORS EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT BIDEN’S APPARENT COGNITIVE ISSUES DURING DEBATE: ‘TROUBLING INDICATORS’

Biden’s personal physician, Kevin C. O’Connor, released the latest update on the president’s health on Monday, July 22, reporting that the president had completed his 10th dose of Paxlovid and that his symptoms have “almost resolved completely.”

There has been a renewed emphasis on the president’s health – both physically and cognitively – in recent weeks, stemming from his concerning performance at the June 27 presidential debate and culminating in his July 21 announcement that he was ending his campaign for re-election.

Cognitive concerns

The first presidential debate of 2024 left many Americans, and even some traditional Democrat allies, wondering about Biden’s mental fitness for office based on what appeared to be his unclear train of thought and lack of coherence.

President Biden gestures as he boards Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)

“President Biden’s performance in [the] debate reignited longstanding discussions about his cognitive abilities and his overall leadership capacity,” Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function, told Fox News Digital after the debate.

“Biden struggled to maintain a coherent narrative, often losing his train of thought mid-sentence and providing vague, rambling and undecipherable answers to highly critical questions,” Osborn continued, expressing his professional opinion.

AFTER BIDEN DROPS OUT OF RACE, DOCTORS REVEAL WHY DECISION MAY HAVE BEEN BEST FOR HIS HEALTH

The doctor, who has not treated the president, also called out Biden’s frequent pauses, struggle to find words and reliance on the notes he was writing as points of concern. 

“President Biden lacks the mental sharpness required for the highest office in the land … especially amid [today’s] current national and international crises,” Osborn said.

The neurosurgeon also mentioned that the 46th president has undergone multiple surgeries for brain aneurysms.

President Biden boards Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

There is a famous saying in neurosurgery, Osborn noted: “When the air hits your brain, you’re never the same.” 

The doctor said, “It is medically probable that when he took office in 2020, he was afflicted by mild cognitive impairment, a gateway syndrome to Alzheimer’s disease and potentially Parkinsonism – not necessarily Parkinson’s disease itself.”

Health’s potential role in Biden’s exit?

After Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, doctors shared their thoughts about what that action meant in terms of his ongoing cognitive health. 

Given signs of his “ailing cognitive status, President Biden’s decision to step down from the race seems prudent,” said Osborn.

JOE BIDEN WITH COVID AT AGE 81: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RISK THE VIRUS POSES TO OLDER ADULTS

“By stepping down, President Biden can prioritize his health and potentially mitigate further cognitive decline while also ensuring the leadership role is filled by someone fully capable of handling the demanding responsibilities of the position.”

Siegel also told Fox News Digital that he believes Biden’s decision may be best for the president’s health.

The first presidential debate of 2024 left many Americans wondering about Biden’s mental fitness for office based on what appeared to be his unclear train of thought and lack of coherence. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

“The stress of the race could have definitely made cognition worse, but it will progress anyway if there is a cognitive issue, and fitness is a big concern,” the doctor told Fox News Digital on Sunday. 

Siegel has said on multiple occasions that he has not examined or treated the president and that he cannot make any definitive diagnoses.

Tested positive for COVID

The president tested positive for COVID-19 on July 17, sparking concerns about the risk the virus poses to older adults.

The White House released an announcement of Biden’s positive COVID test, noting that the president had been vaccinated and boosted and was “experiencing mild symptoms.”

Dr. Marc Siegel joined “Fox & Friends” on June 28 to discuss concerns sparked by Biden’s performance at the June 27 presidential debate against former President Trump. (Kevin D. Liles for the Washington Post via Getty Images | Fox News)

His upper respiratory symptoms included “rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise,” according to a statement on the White House’s website.

Doctors shared their concerns about the potential long-term effect COVID could have on Biden.

CDC RECOMMENDS ADDITIONAL COVID VACCINE FOR ADULTS 65 AND OVER

“Post-COVID syndromes and long COVID have been shown to affect underlying neurological conditions,” Siegel warned. 

“This can also come from recurrent COVID.”

“By stepping down, President Biden can prioritize his health and potentially mitigate further cognitive decline.”

Osborn noted that the virus has been shown to have potential long-term effects on cognitive function, often referred to as “brain fog.” 

“These effects can include difficulties with memory, attention and executive function,” he said. 

“In someone with pre-existing cognitive issues like President Biden, contracting COVID-19 could exacerbate these symptoms – via neuroinflammation – and lead to a more rapid decline.”

President Biden walks down the steps of Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on July 17, 2024. (Susan Walsh/AP)

As of July 22, Biden had received his 10th dose of Paxlovid.

“His symptoms have almost resolved completely,” O’Connor, the president’s doctor, wrote in a July 22 briefing. 

“His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain absolutely normal. His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear.”

Health as a qualifying factor

Along with meeting the official requirements for president, Siegel and Osborn agreed that whoever holds the office should also be physically and cognitively healthy.

“It is extremely important,” Siegel told Fox News Digital. “We have a right to it as a country.”

The role of president involves making complex and high-stakes decisions, often under significant pressure, Osborn noted. 

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function, has shared his concerns about Biden’s cognitive fitness. (Dr. Brett Osborn)

“Cognitive health is essential for clear thinking, effective communication and sound decision-making, all things President Biden lacks,” he said, sharing his viewpoint. 

Physical health is also essential, Osborn said, as the role also requires long hours, frequent travel and crisis management.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“A healthy president is better equipped to handle the demands of the office and to lead the nation effectively through various challenges,” he added.

In light of Biden’s announcement to exit the race, Siegel said the decision “should be accompanied by a full health disclosure.”

Doctors have called for thorough health evaluations for presidential candidates, and sitting presidents, to ensure they can perform their required duties. (Getty Images)

He said, “They should admit to what they know and reveal full neurological results.”

The situation highlights the need for thorough health evaluations for presidential candidates – and sitting presidents – to ensure they can perform their required duties, according to Osborn. 

“Routine testing – physical and mental – should be made nonnegotiable instead of being thwarted by the governing party,” he said. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health

In response to outreach from Fox News Digital, the White House press office stated that “health was not a factor” in the president’s decision to withdraw from the race. 

“He looks forward to finishing his term and delivering more historic results for the American people,” the White House said in its statement. 

FIRST ON FOX: After President Joe Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, two doctors shared thoughts with Fox News Digital about what this means in terms of Biden’s ongoing cognitive health. 

Looking back, some experts believe the path to Biden’s dropout began with what was widely described as a disastrous debate performance in late June, during which the president seemed to display an unclear train of thought and a lack of coherence.

“President Biden has shown signs of cognitive impairment for many years,” Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function, told Fox News Digital on Sunday. He has not treated Biden or advised him. 

JOE BIDEN WITH COVID AT AGE 81: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RISK THE VIRUS POSES TO OLDER ADULTS

“It is medically probable that when he took office in 2020, he was afflicted by mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a gateway syndrome to Alzheimer’s disease and potentially Parkinsonism (not necessarily Parkinson’s disease itself),” Osborn said. 

“And he has only deteriorated since then, as is typical of those with neurodegenerative diseases.”

‘Prudent’ decision

Given signs of his “ailing cognitive status, President Biden’s decision to step down from the race seems prudent,” said Osborn, expressing his professional opinion.

“In my opinion, he is unfit to run the country and is unsuitable for his duties as commander-in-chief,” he said.

“By stepping down, President Biden can prioritize his health and potentially mitigate further cognitive decline, while also ensuring the leadership role is filled by someone fully capable of handling the demanding responsibilities of the position.”

DOCTORS EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT BIDEN’S APPARENT COGNITIVE ISSUES DURING DEBATE: ‘TROUBLING INDICATORS’

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he believes Biden’s decision may be best for the president’s health.

“The stress of the race could have definitely made cognition worse — but it will progress anyway if there is a cognitive issue, and fitness is a big concern,” the doctor told Fox News Digital on Sunday. (Siegel has said on multiple occasions that he has not examined or treated the president and that he cannot make any definitive diagnoses.)

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he believes Biden’s decision to leave the 2024 presidential race was best for the president’s health. (Fox News)

Osborn also emphasized that remaining in the presidential race could have been “detrimental” to Biden’s mental and physical health. 

“Chronic stress releases cortisol, the dominant stress hormone of the body, which can negatively impact the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, leading to further deterioration,” Osborn told Fox News Digital.

“In my opinion, he is unfit to run the country and is unsuitable for his duties as commander-in-chief.” 

— Neurosurgeon Dr. Brett Osborn

Biden’s past brain surgeries could also have affected his cognitive function, according to Osborn.

“It is likely that the combination of the two brain surgeries and his [possible] neurodegenerative diseases, plus the added stress of the Oval Office, have markedly accelerated the deterioration of his already ailing brain,” he said.

“President Biden has shown signs of cognitive impairment for many years,” Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function, told Fox News Digital. (Dr. Brett Osborn)

“Another term [was] not even a consideration, in my opinion. By 2028, he will categorically be a ‘nursing home patient.’”

In addition to cognitive concerns, the doctors also discussed Biden’s recent bout with COVID-19.

EXPERIMENTAL ALZHEIMER’S DRUG GETS FDA ADVISORY PANEL’S THUMBS-UP: ‘PROGRESS IS HAPPENING’

“Post-COVID syndromes and long COVID have been shown to affect underlying neurological conditions,” Siegel warned. 

“This can also come from recurrent COVID.”

“Another term [was] not even a consideration, in my opinion,” a neurosurgeon told Fox News Digital about Biden. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Regarding COVID, Osborn noted that the virus has been shown to have potential long-term effects on cognitive function, often referred to as “brain fog.” 

“These effects can include difficulties with memory, attention and executive function,” he said. 

“Post-COVID syndromes and long COVID have been shown to affect underlying neurological conditions.”

— Dr. Marc Siegel

“In someone with pre-existing cognitive issues like President Biden, contracting COVID-19 could exacerbate these symptoms – via neuroinflammation – and lead to a more rapid decline.”

Osborn also suggested that the president’s contracting COVID was used as an “exit strategy.”

“It accelerated his, but more likely their, decision to vacate his run for the presidency,” the doctor surmised.

Health as a qualifying factor

Along with meeting the official requirements — that the president must be a natural-born citizen, must be at least 35 years of age, and must have lived in the country for at least 14 years — both doctors agreed that the individual should also be physically and cognitively healthy.

“It is extremely important,” Siegel told Fox News Digital. “We have a right to it as a country.”

The role of president involves making complex and high-stakes decisions, often under significant pressure, Osborn noted. 

“Cognitive health is essential for clear thinking, effective communication and sound decision-making, all things President Biden lacks,” he said, sharing his viewpoint. 

“They should admit to what they know and reveal full neurological results.”

— Dr. Marc Siegel

Physical health is also essential, Osborn said, as the role also requires long hours, frequent travel and crisis management.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“A healthy president is better equipped to handle the demands of the office and to lead the nation effectively through various challenges,” he added.

Need ‘full health disclosures’

In light of Biden’s announcement to exit the race, Siegel said the decision “should be accompanied by a full health disclosure.”

He said, “They should admit to what they know and reveal full neurological results.”

In light of Biden’s announcement to exit the race, Siegel said the decision “should be accompanied by a full health disclosure.” (Getty Images | iStock)

The situation highlights the need for thorough health evaluations for presidential candidates – and sitting presidents — to ensure they can perform their required duties, according to Osborn. 

“Routine testing – physical and mental – should be made non-negotiable instead of being thwarted by the governing party,” he said. 

“The allowance of President Biden’s mental incompetence for four years is an embarrassment to the United States government, and the world has borne witness.”

In response to outreach from Fox News Digital, the White House press office stated that “health was not a factor” in the president’s decision to withdraw from the race. 

Biden is continuing his course of Paxlovid and his COVID symptoms have “significantly” improved, according to the president’s physician. 

“He looks forward to finishing his term and delivering more historic results for the American people,” said the White House in its statement. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health

On July 21, the White House released the most recent health update from the president’s physician, Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor.

O’Connor also noted that Biden is continuing his course of Paxlovid and that his COVID symptoms have “significantly” improved. The doctor also stated that Biden’s vital signs are normal, and his lungs remain clear.

Pop star Taylor Swift has helped her fans achieve a more positive outlook overall on diet culture, disordered eating and body image, according to a new study from the University of Vermont.

The research, published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, surveyed hundreds of social media posts on TikTok and Reddit from Swift fans’ remarks about eating disorders or body image.

The common themes included conversations about Swift as a role model for disordered eating recovery; the use of or identification with specific songs that mention struggles with eating or body image; and objectification of Swift’s body.

TAYLOR SWIFT SUPERFAN SPENT NEARLY $9K TO ATTEND 12 ERAS TOUR CONCERTS: ‘A BIG DEAL’

The study also examined conflicting reactions from fans on social media to a scene in Swift’s “Anti-Hero” music video that depicted the word “fat” on a scale.

Swift’s disclosure of her own struggles with eating and body image have had an overall positive influence on her fans with similar struggles, the researchers concluded.

Swift is considered “one of the most popular and influential celebrities” with “power as a role model for millions of fans across the world,” the study findings stated.

THE TAYLOR SWIFT OBSESSION: PSYCHOLOGIST WEIGHS IN ON WHY FANS WORSHIP CELEBRITIES

Lead study researchers Lizzy Pope and Kelsey Rose discussed the findings with Fox News Digital.

Pope, an associate professor of nutrition and food sciences at the University of Vermont, said she recognized the admiration many of her students have for Swift.

Taylor Swift performs onstage during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at Veltins Arena on July 17, 2024, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Andreas Rentz/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

In Swift’s 2020 documentary, “Miss Americana,” the pop star spoke candidly about her eating disorder — which led Pope to wonder how such disclosures have impacted her fans.

She and Rose, a clinical assistant professor of nutrition and food sciences at the University of Vermont, began gathering qualitative data from social media to create a “code book” of common themes.

TAYLOR SWIFT QUIZ! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE FAMOUS POP MUSICIAN?

The researchers found that Swift seemed to be a role model for those dealing with disordered eating.

“People would have really vulnerable, honest reflections on how her work, or her disclosure, had helped them through disordered eating of their own,” Pope said. 

Two Taylor Swift fans pose for a selfie in the city center during the pop singer’s concert at the nearby Veltins Arena on July 17, 2024, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Hesham Elsherif/Getty Images)

Swift also appeared to help decrease the stigma around disordered eating and make it more acceptable to seek treatment, according to the researchers.

Despite the overall positive effects, however, Pope noted that many fans still “persistently objectified” Swift’s body online.

90-YEAR-OLD TRAVELS TO SEE TAYLOR SWIFT’S ‘ERAS TOUR’ WITH GRANDDAUGHTER, SAYS HER HEART ‘STILL YOUNG’

Pope also called the “fat scale” in Swift’s “Anti-Hero” music video an “artistic choice,” although some people claimed that it showed “anti-fat bias.” 

“Other people thought it was just her experience as someone with an eating disorder who has body dysmorphia and sees her objectively thin body as fat,” she said.

(Swift has since removed this scene from the video, in response to critics who considered it “harmful,” Pope said.) 

Taylor Swift and Lana Wilson are shown speaking onstage during the Netflix premiere of “Miss Americana” at Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 23, 2020, in Park City, Utah. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Netfilx)

Given Swift’s “vulnerability and honesty,” Rose pointed out the “profound impact” the singer has had on society.

“A strong female figure in the celebrity world can have a huge impact on our culture and the well-being of our citizens,” she said.

AS EATING DISORDERS INCREASE AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS, HERE’S HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

Eating disorders have risen since the pandemic began, particularly among teens and young adults, Pope pointed out.

“So, maybe there’s an untapped public health potential to partner with celebrities who have had these types of experiences and are willing to be vulnerable and … change the way we think about bodies, eating and what it means to be healthy,” she suggested.

Warning on ‘potential detriment’

Dr. Andrea Vazzana, a psychologist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders at NYU Langone in New York City, reacted to the study findings in an interview with Fox News Digital. She was not involved in the research. 

Vazzana pointed out that Swift has driven people to action in other areas, from voting to attending football games and making friendship bracelets. 

Taylor Swift performs onstage during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at Veltins Arena on July 17, 2024, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Andreas Rentz/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

The pop star’s influence on disordered eating, however, could be a “potential detriment,” Vazzana warned.

In her 2020 documentary, “Taylor appeared to advocate for body acceptance and against behaviors that sabotage one’s body image and physical or emotional health,” she said. 

‘GIRL DINNERS’ SOCIAL MEDIA TREND SPARKS CONCERN AMONG EXPERTS: ‘UNHEALTHY OBSESSION’

“She spoke of the futility of trying to meet societal beauty standards – in part because beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in part because of the incompatibility of meeting multiple standards simultaneously.”

Vazzana, however, said she considers this self-disclosure to be “flawed in several ways.”

“A strong female figure in the celebrity world can have a huge impact on our culture and the well-being of our citizens,” one of the researchers said. (iStock)

“Some people will view Taylor as a role model of vitality,” she said. 

“On the other hand, those fans [who are] susceptible to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are likely to scour her words for tips on how she lost weight and ways that she now maintains what most would consider an enviable physique.”

There is a risk that fans might try to “emulate her exercise and restrictive eating habits, despite her disavowal of them.”

Advertisement

Swift’s disclosure addresses “weight-loss methods, timelines, social reinforcers and excuses [given to] concerned individuals,” the psychologist added.

There is a risk that fans might try to “emulate her exercise and restrictive eating habits, despite her disavowal of them,” Vazzana said.

Swift also shared her clothing size at her current weight and at her thinnest, the expert noted, which could spark comparisons or even self-loathing among fans, Vazzana also said.

Swift’s disclosure of details about her disordered eating could pose a risk for some fans, one psychologist warned. (iStock)

“Multiple well-controlled quantitative research studies have demonstrated the negative impact of comparing one’s appearance with celebrities who promote thinness, with stronger parasocial relationships and celebrity worship magnifying that impact.”

Vazzana also called out potential limitations of the study.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews/lifestyle

“Data was sourced from a self-selected population of individuals who were like-minded in their choice of social media and their Swiftie fandom,” she said. 

“Swifties are a notoriously cohesive and loyal group of supporters.”

So these fans may be less likely to disagree with the core group of posters to avoid any backlash, Vazzana noted.

The posts were also not randomly selected, she added, which could introduce a “potential source of bias.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for reaction to Vazzana’s input and to Swift’s representatives requesting comment.