Health
Trump’s stamina at age 78 impresses the experts: ‘Mental and physical resilience’
Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency has put his health and stamina into focus.
While past presidents have appeared to age quickly during their administrations, experts say Trump maintains high levels of energy and vitality eight years after he was first elected president.
From his nomination in mid-March 2024 until the election on Nov. 5, Trump presided over at least 120 rallies, town halls and campaign events.
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“The fact that he attended 120 events in 7 months — often multiple rallies in a single day in different states — is proof-positive that Trump has a tremendous amount of stamina, mentally and physically,” Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert, told Fox News Digital.
As of last November, Trump’s overall health was “excellent,” according to a letter penned by his personal physician, which the president-elect posted on his Truth Social account.
Donald Trump’s re-election as president this week has put his health and stamina into focus. (Getty Images)
In the letter, Dr. Bruce Aronwold of New Jersey’s Morristown Medical Center wrote that Trump’s physical exams were “well within the normal range” and that his cognitive exams were “exceptional.”
The doctor added that with continued preventative monitoring and maintenance, “he will continue to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle for years to come.”
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The president-elect also spoke about his health during an Oct. 26 appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
“How are you so healthy?” Rogan asked Trump directly.
Donald Trump is pictured in 2016 (left) and in 2024 (right). As of last November, the president-elect’s overall health was deemed “excellent,” according to a letter penned by his personal physician. (David Hume Kennerly/James Devaney; GC Images/Getty Images)
Trump attributed his good health to “genetics,” he said, noting that his parents were also healthy.
The president-elect also acknowledged that his love of golf has helped boost his health and stamina — particularly the “good, fresh air” that comes with being outside, along with the mental stimulation of focusing on the game.
Lifestyle vs. genetics
Osborn said he finds it “fascinating” to look at Trump’s aging process through the lens of genetics and lifestyle.
“It’s well-established that both factors contribute to how we age, with research suggesting that about 75% of aging is driven by lifestyle and environment, and 25% by genetics,” Osborn, who has not treated or examined Trump, told Fox News Digital.
“Research suggests that about 75% of aging is driven by lifestyle and environment, and 25% by genetics.”
“This balance highlights the power of lifestyle choices, even for those with potential genetic advantages.”
While Trump has been open about partaking of fast food and soda, he has said that he doesn’t smoke or drink alcohol.
“Avoiding alcohol and tobacco — major contributors to various health issues — likely benefits his cardiovascular and cognitive health,” Osborn noted.
President-elect Donald Trump is pictured at an election night watch party on Wednesday, Nov. 6, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (AP/Alex Brandon)
The doctor reiterated that the president-elect’s golf outings provide regular outdoor exercise, which is essential for heart and muscle health as he ages.
Beyond the avoidance of alcohol and tobacco, Osborn attributes Trump’s health and stamina to his high level of social interaction.
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“He maintains close relationships with family and friends and keeps up a packed, demanding schedule,” Osborn noted.
“Social engagement and mental stimulation are strongly associated with lower dementia risks, and Trump’s rigorous daily routine likely supports his cognitive health.”
Power of the mind
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, said that the president-elect has a high level of cognitive health.
“I’ve never examined him, but I interviewed him twice previously and found him to be very engaged and cognitively advanced,” Siegel told Fox News Digital, adding that Trump has taken “several” cognitive tests.
Barack Obama is pictured in 2008 (left) and at the end of his term in 2016 (right). While past presidents have appeared to age quickly during their administrations, experts say Trump maintains high levels of energy and vitality eight years after he was first elected to the White House. (Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis/Samuel Corum; Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
“I spoke several times to his physician during the first term, Sean Conley, who said he was very fit mentally and physically,” Siegel said.
“Many people who know him well tell me that.”
The doctor also noted that Trump has “spoken extemporaneously many times without a script or teleprompter, which is advanced.”
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Osborn echoed that, noting that Trump fielded questions without preparation, which was “sound testimony to his high level of cognitive function and mental fortitude.”
In response to any claims of the president-elect’s cognitive decline, Osborn called them “unfounded.”
“Trump’s cognitive function rivals that of much younger individuals, and his stamina is evident in his ability to manage a high-energy schedule.”
“Trump’s cognitive function rivals that of much younger individuals, and his stamina is evident in his ability to manage a high-energy schedule — think five rallies in five states in a single day!”
Osborn added, “These feats are a testament to his mental and physical resilience, demonstrating that age can truly be just a number.”
‘Strong sense of self’
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan, said that Trump’s “strong sense of self” could also contribute to his stamina. (He has not examined him.)
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Feeling sleepy during the day could signal a more serious issue for some groups.
A new study published in the journal Neurology revealed a possible connection between daytime sleepiness in older people and dementia risk.
People who lack enthusiasm for activities and feel sleepy during the day were found to have a higher risk of developing a condition called motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR).
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MCR can cause people to walk at slower speeds and experience memory issues – and it can occur before dementia develops.
Researchers found that people with a lack of enthusiasm and daytime sleepiness are more than three times more likely to develop MCR. (iStock)
The study, led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, included 445 participants averaging 76 years of age who did not have dementia.
Participants were asked about memory issues and walked on treadmills to assess their walking speeds. This was repeated once a year for an average of three years.
The group also completed a sleep assessment to gauge sleeping problems, patterns and medications.
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The researchers also tracked how often people had trouble staying awake while driving, eating or being social, as well as their issues maintaining enthusiasm for daily tasks.
At the start, 42 people had MCR, while another 36 developed the condition during the study.
After adjusting for factors like age, depression and other health conditions, researchers found that people with a lack of enthusiasm and daytime sleepiness were more than three times as likely to develop MCR.
MCR can cause people to walk at slow speeds and have memory issues. It can occur before dementia develops. (iStock)
“Our findings suggest that sleep issues affecting daytime wakefulness are most strongly associated with later cognitive risk,” study author Victoire Leroy, MD, PhD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, told Fox News Digital.
“This supports the hypothesis that sleep-related problems, particularly daytime sleepiness, are connected to cognitive impairment in older adults.”
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“More research needs to be done to look at the relationship between sleep issues and cognitive decline and the role played by motoric cognitive risk syndrome,” Leroy added.
The study did have some limitations, the researchers noted.
It did not prove that sleep-related issues cause MCR, but only showed an association. Participants also self-reported their own sleep information, which left some room for bias.
Sleep-related daytime impairment remained a significant risk factor for MCR even after adjusting for depression. (iStock)
“These results should be interpreted with caution due to several limitations in the study, and the association is not shown to be causal,” Leroy told Fox News Digital.
“Further research is needed to validate this relationship and its underlying mechanisms.”
Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, RAND Corporation senior behavioral specialist and licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, commented on the study in a conversation with Fox News Digital.
“Our findings suggest that sleep issues affecting daytime wakefulness are most strongly associated with later cognitive risk.”
As sleep problems and depression are “highly related,” it’s “important to disentangle whether their sleep problems uniquely contribute to MCR, over and above the effects of depression,” said Troxel, who was not involved in the study.
“Results showed that people with poor sleep quality had a higher chance of developing MCR, but this link was no longer significant when accounting for depression,” she added.
One study limitation is that participants self-reported their own sleep information, the researchers added. (iStock)
Sleep-related daytime impairment remained a significant risk factor for MCR even after adjusting for depression, according to Troxel.
“These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that promoting sleep health may be an important strategy to reduce the risk of dementia and emphasize the need for better screening and diagnosis for sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea,” she said.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
These disorders are “prevalent and treatable” in both men and women, Troxel noted, but they remain “under-diagnosed and under-treated.”
The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging.
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