Health
Doctors express concern about Biden’s apparent cognitive issues during debate: 'Troubling indicators'
The first presidential debate of 2024 left many Americans and even some traditional Democratic allies wondering about President Biden’s mental fitness for office based on what appeared to be his unclear train of thought at times and his raspy voice on Thursday night.
The White House responded to these concerns, claiming that the president, who is 81, was fighting a cold, but some doctors said they perceive the health issues go beyond the sniffles — with one noting that “it is an issue of fitness, not of age.”
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function, told Fox News Digital on Friday about his concerns.
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“President Biden’s performance in [Thursday] night’s debate reignited longstanding discussions about his cognitive abilities and his overall leadership capacity,” Osborn told Fox News Digital.
“Throughout the evening, 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,” said Osborn, expressing his professional opinion.
Joe Biden is shown on Friday, June 28, the day after the debate, at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Marc Siegel, inset left, and Dr. Brett Osborn, inset right, weighed in on President Biden’s performance during the Thursday night presidential debate, sharing concerns about his health from their point of view. (Fox News; Getty Images; Dr. Brett Osborn)
“His frequent pauses, stumbling over words and reliance on notes underscored concerns about his mental acuity,” Osborn added.
“Biden struggled to maintain a coherent narrative, often losing his train of thought mid-sentence.”
These seeming signs of cognitive decline highlight a “growing inability” to manage the complexities required by the job of the presidency, according to the neurosurgeon.
“His difficulty in articulating clear, concise responses and his apparent disorientation during the debate were seen by many – including his own constituents – as very troubling indicators of his overall health and an obvious decline in his cognitive function,” Osborn said.
Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are shown during the first presidential debate of the 2024 election at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
“President Biden lacks the mental sharpness required for the highest office in the land … especially amid [today’s] current national and international crises.”
The neurosurgeon, who has not treated Biden personally, also mentioned the 46th president has undergone multiple surgeries for brain aneurysms.
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There is a famous saying in neurosurgery, Osborn noted: “When the air hits your brain, you’re never the same.”
The surgeon surmised, “The odds have been stacked against him for years, long before his presidency.”
Joe Biden reacts as supporters greet him at his debate watch party at Hyatt Regency Atlanta on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Derek White/Getty Images for DNC)
Dr. Marc Siegel, physician, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, also spoke with Fox News Digital about concerns from his end.
“The debate is, in a way, a psychiatric or cognitive stress test,” he told Fox News Digital.
Although Biden was able to respond to questions and seemed to be spatially aware, according to Siegel, the president did display “frequent disorientation” and had “problems with spontaneity or redirecting,” the doctor said.
He has not personally examined Biden.
Dr. Marc Siegel, at right, joined “Fox & Friends” on Friday, June 28, to discuss the presidential debate on Thursday evening. (Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post via Getty Images; Fox News)
Siegel described Biden’s speech as “meandering,” noting that he ended sentences in different places than intended, and “often mixed up ‘trillions’ and ‘billions’ and ‘millions.’”
Siegel confirmed that a physical illness, even with a cold, can bring out cognitive issues “even more.”
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“Even so, it’s hard to believe this is all from a cold,” Siegel told Fox News Digital. “Either way, we need someone who is sharp despite a cold.”
The NYU Langone physician noted that cognitive issues “wax and wane,” so they won’t always present the same way.
President Joe Biden looks over at former President Donald Trump during the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season on June 27, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
While the age of both candidates has been raised as a concern, Siegel countered that what’s important is a president’s physical and mental fitness.
“It is an issue of fitness, not of age,” he said. “It is an issue of mental acuity, which is especially important if there is a crisis.”
While Biden is 81 (he turns 82 in November), Trump is 78 years old.
During an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on Friday morning, Siegel also spoke about the possibility of cold medications impacting Biden’s performance.
“It is an issue of fitness, not of age. It is an issue of mental acuity.”
“None of the medications that he would be taking for a cold, except something that might make him drowsy, would be relevant here,” he said.
“And I don’t think they would give him something that would make him drowsy before a debate,” he said.
He added, “We’ve been watching this a long time. This is something progressive.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Biden campaign and to the White House press office for comment.
Earlier this year, concerns emerged about Biden’s age and memory after the release of a special counsel’s report. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Earlier this year, concerns emerged about Biden’s age and memory after the release of a special counsel’s report. The report described the Democrat’s memory as “hazy,” “fuzzy,” “faulty,” “poor” and having “significant limitations,” the Associated Press noted at the time.
The report indicated that Biden could not recall certain milestones in his own life, such as the date his own son Beau died of brain cancer, as Fox News Digital reported at the time. (Beau Biden passed away on May 30, 2015.)
“My memory is fine,” Biden responded afterward from the White House.
“A person with growing problems of memory and judgment is frequently the last to acknowledge it.”
The New York Times editorial board and others have called on Biden to step out of the race after his debate performance.
Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that Biden had a “slow start” to the debate, but she defended his performance overall and his record during his time in the White House.
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Said Dr. Siegel in a New York Post opinion piece that ran in the publication on Saturday morning, “This isn’t a question of age. Cognition varies widely with age, and it isn’t fair to say that executive function is automatically impaired at a certain point in life. But it’s a sad medical fact that a person with growing problems of memory and judgment is frequently the last to acknowledge it.”
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The Fourth of July should be a day for all Americans to celebrate our nation’s birthday.
But for some, especially America’s heroes, celebratory traditions like setting off fireworks can be mentally and emotionally grueling.
Research has shown that fireworks can trigger PTSD symptoms, as detailed in a 2020 blog post published by Penn Medicine News.
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As the explosives are usually set off at night, with bright flashes and loud bangs that come at inconsistent intervals, veterans may struggle with these celebrations.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Florida family physician and former Navy Officer Dr. Christopher Scuderi offered tips for people with PTSD to prepare for the sudden, loud noises of the Fourth of July holiday.
Independence Day is celebrated with fireworks over the Empire State Building in New York City on July 4, 2023. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency)
Here are four.
1. Talk to neighbors
PTSD sufferers should ask their neighbors if they plan to set off fireworks so they aren’t caught off guard if it does happen, Scuderi said.
In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Tony Brooks, a combat veteran based in Everett, Washington, also recommended having this “simple human-to-human conversation.”
Speaking with neighbors about their firework plans can bring mental relief to veterans, experts say. (iStock)
He recommended that anyone planning to set off fireworks brings up the topic casually in conversation.
This step offers an opportunity for others to voice their concerns without forcing them to admit something they may wish to keep private.
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Veterans who have issues with fireworks will most likely speak up if they’re mentioned, according to Brooks — even if the response is as simple as, “I’m not a fan of them.”
2. Gear up
For veterans who will be indoors, Scuderi recommended darkening the room, as well as using ear protection, such as foam earplugs or noise-canceling headphones, while fireworks are going off.
“Have some items around the house that can help with self-care before the holiday that will center you if you are exposed to loud noises,” he advised.
One expert suggested using earplugs or noise-canceling headphones while fireworks are going off. (iStock)
For those planning on being out in the evening, Scuderi suggested having a designated driver in case triggers occur.
3. Practice relaxation techniques
Having self-soothing methods on deck during stressful times can be helpful, according to Scuderi.
This might include deep breathing exercises to calm the nervous system or other mindfulness techniques, like mindful eating using “all of your senses (how does the food look, smell, feel),” Scuderi said.
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“Sometimes the 5-4-3-2-1 sensory exercise can help with recentering,” the physician said.
“What are five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can feel, two things you can smell, and one good or grateful thing you can say about yourself?”
Practicing mindfulness and breathing techniques can come in handy during loud fireworks, an expert said. (iStock)
Scuderi also recommended practicing positive self-talk.
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“Just reminding yourself that you are in a safe zone can help,” he said.
“Accept your emotions and remind yourself that [fireworks] are startling for anyone, and that you are safe.”
4. Cool the body down
Especially during the hot summer months, Scuderi suggested cooling the body temperature by taking a cold shower or using an ice cube or bag of frozen vegetables on the skin.
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“[This] can help with PTSD triggers,” he said.
A vendor sells American flags to spectators waiting for the start of the Independence Day firework show at the Washington Monument on July 4, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Nathan Howard)
Not every PTSD sufferer is the same, Brooks mentioned, as many veterans enjoy Fourth of July fireworks.
For veterans who are struggling with their symptoms, Scuderi suggested reaching out to VA resources like the PTSD Coach mobile app of VA crisis line 1-800-273-8255.
“Or talk to your family physician about options for treatment,” he added.
A summer COVID surge is underway in the U.S., warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — so should you be concerned?
As of June 25, 2024, the CDC estimated that COVID-19 infections are “growing or likely growing” in 44 states and territories, according to a news alert on its website.
Despite the rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain low, the data shows.
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Given that the pandemic was declared officially over as of May 5, 2023, public health officials don’t collect the same amount of COVID data as they once did.
“But the data that we do have from the CDC, including from monitoring wastewater, indicates that COVID-19 infections are rising in many places in the U.S.,” Dr. Jay Varma, chief medical officer at SIGA Technologies, a pharmaceutical company in New York City, told Fox News Digital.
A summer COVID surge is underway right now in the U.S., warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, physician, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, acknowledged that there’s been an uptick in cases recently.
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“There has been an upsurge in certain areas, including California — fueled by the so-called FLiRT variants, KP.3, KP.2 and KP.1,” he told Fox News Digital.
“It could spread to more states.”
COVID-19 infections are “growing or likely growing” in 44 states and territories, according to a CDC news alert. (iStock)
CDC data shows that the KP.3 and KP.2 strains — both of which are subvariants of the highly contagious JN.1 variant — currently account for over half of all new cases.
Does COVID spread more in summer?
Since COVID-19 emerged in 2020, scientists have learned that the virus has seasonal patterns, Varma said, with predictable peaks in spring/early summer and winter.
“Winter peaks are easy to explain — more people spend time indoors, and there are changes in the climate, including relative humidity, that make it easier for infections to spread through the air,” Varma, who served as the New York City mayor’s senior adviser for public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, told Fox News Digital.
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It’s not quite as easy, however, to explain the peak during warmer weather.
“It may be because the virus evolves at a frequency that aligns with the spring/summer — or there could be other environmental factors that we do not understand well,” Varma said.
CDC data shows that the KP.3 and KP.2 strains — both of which are subvariants of the highly contagious JN.1 variant — account for more than half of all new cases this summer so far. (iStock)
Siegel, however, does not believe that COVID is seasonal.
“It is a respiratory virus, and it spreads when people huddle close together,” he told Fox News Digital.
“And like all respiratory viruses, it spreads further in low humidity.”
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“Having said that, it has not shown itself to be seasonal, meaning that it can spread in warm weather easily as well.”
COVID’s subvariants (FLiRT) are “immunoevasive,” according to Siegel, which means people can get them even if they had prior immunity.
Ways to curb the spread
To reduce the chances of catching COVID this summer, Siegel said the same advice applies year-round.
“If you are sharing indoor air, such as on an airplane or in a crowded space, wearing a high-quality mask can reduce your risk of getting infected,” one doctor advised. (iStock)
“If you are sharing indoor air, such as on an airplane or in a crowded space, wearing a high-quality mask can reduce your risk of getting infected,” he advised.
“If you have any cough or cold symptoms, including what you think are allergies, it’s a good idea to take a rapid test for COVID-19.”
A rapid test is an effective way to determine whether you’re likely to be infectious to other people, Siegel added.
Despite the rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain low, data shows.
Varma agreed, noting that “being aware and using rapid testing when exposed or sick helps.”
For high-risk people who become infected, Varma also recommends the use of Paxlovid, an antiviral medication that can help prevent severe illness.
Should you get a fall vaccine?
As of June 27, the CDC recommends that all people 6 months of age and older get updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccines when they become available in fall 2024.
“I think this is the right advice,” Siegel said.
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“While we know that the flu and COVID vaccines only provide partial protection, we know these vaccines are extremely safe and that they may lead to fewer days of work or school lost, fewer days of misery, a lower risk of long COVID, and a lower risk of spreading infection to other people who may have risk of hospitalization or death,” he said.
As of June 27, the CDC recommends that all people 6 months of age and older get updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccines when they become available in fall 2024. (Julian Stratenschulte/dpa (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images))
Varma agreed, noting that the updated vaccine will target the new, prevalent subvariants.
“It will be effective and should be taken or highly considered — especially for high-risk groups and those most at risk, including the elderly,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“If COVID continues to spread, I would recommend the vaccine as one of our effective tools for adults to decrease severity and long COVID symptoms.”
He added, “For younger people, it is a matter of choice, but I continue to like the vaccine’s effectiveness at decreasing long COVID risk.”
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