Latest news with #CognitiveDecline
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Trump just delivered a word salad speech that would've got Biden impeached
Once upon a time, if the president of the United States stumbled over a sentence, forgot a name, or momentarily glitched mid-speech, it was treated as a national emergency. 'Cognitive decline!' the headlines cried. 'Who's really running the country?' asked Republican attack ads on then-president Joe Biden, implying former vice president Kamala Harris was lurking just offstage with the strings of the puppet in her hands. Twitter (not X, never X) diagnosed poor Joe with dementia. There was talk about invoking the 25th Amendment. Biden's enemies — and then even some of his friends — painted him as a husk of a man: barely lucid, tragically unaware, propelled only by hubris toward a second term. But now Donald Trump is back, and aren't things different? Or wait, are they? During a speech in Pittsburgh Tuesday afternoon for the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, the 47th president certainly had his faculties on full display. To start, the president claimed, without blinking, that he had already secured $16 trillion in investments into the U.S. economy. For reference, the entire GDP of the United States is under $30 trillion. Now, we all know that Donald is prone to exaggeration. We've all heard that his latest idea/bill/haircut is the greatest thing ever, and that some people are saying it's the most incredible idea/bill/haircut the world has ever seen. But this was clearly not delivered for melodramatic effect. This was the president of the United States claiming that he had single-handedly funded half of capitalism, in six months. Moments later, Trump attempted to introduce Republican Rep. Dan Meuser. 'Where's Dan?' he asked, scanning the crowd. Dave McCormick, seated beside him, had to quietly inform him that all the representatives had stayed in Washington. 'Oh, they're in Washington working on our next bill? Good!' Trump replied. 'Now I don't have to mention their names, although they're watching on television, I guarantee.' He laughed nervously as he said it, in quite an uncharacteristic way, and then trailed off while muttering, again, that it was 'good' that 'they' are working on something in D.C. It was oddly difficult to watch. The 79-year-old president then struggled to pronounce the name of one of his own White House aides, before saying, 'They tell me you're doing great.' And, as the spicy dressing on the word salad, he added a bizarre aside about Unabomber Ted Kaczynski being a great student ('It didn't work out too well for him' in the end, however, according to Trump, a conclusion that clearly demands intellectual rigor beyond the everyday man or woman.) If Biden had said any of this, Fox News would have launched a live countdown to impeachment. But it's unlikely we'll see these gaffes dominate the news cycle — even though President Donald J. Trump, supposedly the sparkiest 79-year-old who ever damn lived, began to visibly struggle to stay awake while seated behind the microphone. There's something to be said here about gerontocracy, and the fact that the last election felt like watching two bald grandpas fighting over a comb, and the awfulness of having people on both sides of the aisle (the late Dianne Feinstein and the clearly struggling Mitch McConnell as two examples) hold on to power rather than relinquish it to people who have the mental and physical capacity to wield it. There's something to be said about Republicans sticking together, even in the face of clear dereliction of duty, and Democrats routinely turning on their own. There's even, perhaps, something to be said about how one can sleepwalk (quite literally) into stupid-sounding lies if one is accustomed to just saying whatever one wants all the time, until eventually it becomes clear that the emperor has no clothes. Trump is vulnerable at this moment, writing as he has on Truth Social that he's disappointed in his 'boys' and 'gals' for not letting themselves be gaslit into believing there was no Epstein list after all. Elon Musk is calling for a new party, as Laura Loomer and Tucker Carlson are being periodically, and loudly, more disloyal. Vice President J.D. Vance isn't exactly coming to a resounding defense of his running mate each time controversy rears its head, either. So it really might've been a good idea for Trump to bring his A-game to events right now. Instead, he showed, in a few short remarks, that he has very little knowledge of the reality of the American economy; is incapable of remembering where his own representatives are, to the point that he'll invite one onstage who is literal states away; doesn't appear to have heard of his aide; and cannot stay awake during an early afternoon public appearance. It's hard to sell 'disruptor' and 'firebrand' when you're falling asleep at the table and muttering people's names semi-coherently. But of course, as we know, all of this will simply be absorbed into the MAGA mythos: just another quirk of the ever-evolving, benevolent Trumpian character. The Republicans will carry him, even if they saw ten times less from Biden and called it reprehensible. And they won't do it because they truly think he's sharp. They'll do it because, in the end, they no longer think that matters.
Medical News Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
What are the different types of dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for conditions that result in a loss of memory, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. There are many different forms of dementia, and they occur due to changes in certain brain regions. Dementia is a general term that refers to a group of conditions that result in a progressive decline of brain functioning. These conditions can cause problems with memory, thinking, language, mood, emotions, and the ability to perform daily typically occurs due to changes in the brain that impact nerve cells or neurons, damaging a person's cognitive abilities. This article explores five different types of diseaseAccording to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for roughly 60% to 80% of cases of dementia in the United are still unsure of the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease. However, it likely relates to changes in the brain, such as shrinking of certain regions, inflammation, and blood vessel damage that results in problems with memory and thinking indicates that many different factors, such as genetics and lifestyle behaviors, contribute to Alzheimer's disease. However, age is the biggest risk factor for the condition, with most people developing Alzheimer's disease at 65 years of age or disease progresses in stages, with worsening symptoms. Common symptoms can include:memory problemsthinking and reasoning difficultieslanguage problemsmood changesvision and hearing changesVascular dementiaVascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Society. It describes a form of dementia that occurs due to restrictions in blood flow to the brain. Inadequate blood flow can damage and eventually kill cells in the brain, resulting in a decline in thinking skills. People over the age of 65 are more likely to develop vascular experts refer to conditions that interrupt the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain as vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. There are different types of vascular dementia that occur due to different blood supply problems to the brain. For example, vascular dementia can occur following a of vascular dementia can vary depending on the severity of blood vessel damage and the part of the brain it affects. Symptoms may be most obvious following an event that damages blood vessels, such as a stroke. For example, the Alzheimer's Association notes that post-stroke changes in thinking and perception can include:confusiondisorientationdifficulty speaking or understanding speechdifficulty balancing and walking problemsnumbness or paralysis on one side of the face or bodyCommon early signs of damage to blood vessels in the brain may include:impaired planning and judgmentuncontrolled laughing and cryinginability to pay attentionimpaired function in social settingstrouble finding the right wordsLewy body dementiaLewy body dementia is the third most common form of dementia. It occurs due to brain deposits of a protein known as alpha-synuclein, or Lewy bodies. There are two types of Lewy body dementia: dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease are currently unsure why Lewy bodies develop in the brain, or exactly how they cause dementia. However, the Alzheimer's Society notes that these protein deposits appear to disrupt the typical functioning of nerve cells, interfering with communication between brain body dementia usually develops over many years. These protein deposits can develop in the brain for a long time before a person presents with symptoms. Although it is possible for younger people to have Lewy body dementia, it usually begins at age 50 or older. Symptoms of Lewy body dementia can include:changes in thinking and reasoningmemory lossvisual hallucinationsproblems staying awakesleep disruptionParkinsonism, such as slow movement, tremors, or rigidityFrontotemporal dementiaFrontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a form of dementia that tends to occur at a younger age than other dementias. Roughly 60% of people with FTD are 45 to 64 years old. The condition was formerly known as Pick's disease, but health experts changed the name to reflect the brain areas the disease impacts. The Alzheimer's Association notes that while researchers do not fully understand the cause of FTD, many people with this form have proteins, known as tau and TDP-43, inside the nerve cells in their brain. The buildup of these proteins damages the neurons and eventually causes cell deathAccording to the Alzheimer's Society, there are two main types of FTD. Behavioral variant FTD describes when damage occurs to the frontal lobes. These lobes are present behind the forehead and help with processing information. As such, behavioral variant FTD can cause symptoms with behavior and progressive aphasia FTD refers to damage to the temporal lobes. These lobes are present on eitherside of the head and help with the understanding of speech. As such, damage to the temporal lobes can cause difficulty with language. This can cause symptoms like difficulty formulating words in a sentence, or affect a person's dementiaIn some cases, people may develop multiple types of dementia. This is known as mixed dementia. When an older adult develops dementia, it is likely due to a combination of different types, rather than just a single type. According to the Alzheimer's Society, roughly 1 in 10 people with a diagnosis of dementia may receive a diagnosis of mixed it can be difficult to diagnose mixed dementia, as a doctor is likely to base their diagnosis on the main type of disease they think is present and causing symptoms. The Alzheimer's Association notes that a combination of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia is the most common such, there is no fixed set of symptoms for mixed dementia. The symptoms a person experiences can vary depending on the type of dementia they The treatment a person receives will depend on the type of dementia they have. Currently, there is no cure for dementia. However, treatments are available to help slow the progression of the may include a combination of medications and non-medical treatment, such as therapies and person-centered care. These treatments may help to improve or stabilize memory, thinking skills, and behavioral can also help address other issues that may affect everyday tasks, such as problems with mobility, speech, and swallowing.»FIND CARE:Find a dementia specialist in your area is an umbrella term for conditions that cause a gradual decline in thinking processes, such as memory, problem-solving, and speech. There are many different forms of dementia, which develop for different reasons. Some common types of dementia include Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia occurs due to changes in the brain that damage and kill nerve cells. This results in a variety of symptoms, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and problems with language and who suspects themselves or a loved one is experiencing dementia should speak with a healthcare professional.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Brain Health Red Flag That Shows Up in the Shower
The Brain Health Red Flag That Shows Up in the Shower originally appeared on Parade. We live in our own heads every day. Yet, recognizing signs that something is up with our brain health is challenging. In fact, someone's family and friends often express concerns about cognitive decline before they it's essential to be aware of red flags that indicate trouble with memory. Some can occur in personal settings, like the shower. No one else knows how often you shampoo or whether you apply body wash or cleanser first."Being aware of changes in brain health can help catch early warning signs of conditions like Alzheimer's disease and other memory disorders," explains Dr. Joel Salinas, MD, the co-founder and chief medical officer of Isaac Health. "The earlier we recognize these changes, the more we can do to support brain function, slow progression and plan for the future. Brain health is just as important as heart health or mental health—and just as worth protecting and prioritizing."One way to monitor your brain health is to recognize subtle signs of cognitive decline, such as this early flag that begins in the shower.🩺 💊 Skipping one or more of your normal shower routine steps, such as washing your face or hair, may be a symptom of cognitive decline."Forgetting parts of your usual shower routine, like using conditioner, can be a sign that your memory or focus isn't working as well as usual," reports Dr. Sanam Hafeez, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist and the director of Comprehend the Mind. "These small changes might seem harmless but could point to early brain health issues. When your brain struggles to remember everyday tasks, it may mean something deeper is going on."For many, a shower routine is almost automatic, like brushing your teeth (unsurprisingly, recent research indicates that poor oral hygiene is also linked to cognitive issues). So, when you constantly forget your daily dose of shampoo, it's cause for concern. "Our brains thrive on routine," Dr. Salinas says. "When someone starts skipping steps in a habit they've done for years—like forgetting to use conditioner or not rinsing off—it could be a subtle sign of trouble with memory, focus or mental organization."Believe it or not, the brain has a lot to organize when you run through your shower steps."They require the interplay of multiple cognitive domains, like memory, planning, sequencing, judgment and physical coordination," explains Dr. Adel Aziz, MD, a neurologist with JFK University Medical Center. Dr. Aziz says that difficulty with routine tasks suggests a possible breakdown in these processes, potentially cognitive decline. Related: You may be wracking your brain trying to remember whether you applied lotion, as you usually do, in the shower. The struggle to remember may also throw you for a loop—is something wrong? Experts stress that even if you occasionally forget a shower step (or where you put your phone), it's not necessarily a red flag for brain health. "Occasional forgetfulness—such as misplacing keys or temporarily forgetting a name or getting distracted from a task—can happen to older individuals, especially if they get tired, are multitasking or are overwhelmed," Dr. Aziz Hafeez agrees—who doesn't forget things when they're tired or stressed? "If it starts happening often, it could be a red flag," she explains. "Repeatedly forgetting basic steps in your daily routine may point to changes in your brain. It's especially concerning if others notice or if it begins to affect your daily life." However, another expert also wants family members and friends to understand that some people may be making personal (lifestyle) choices. "It's a matter of degree," says Dr. John Showalter, MD, MSIS, a board-certified internal medicine and informatics specialist and the chief operating officer of Linus Health. "A new retiree who decided he no longer wants to shave every day is not concerning. If the same retiree doesn't shower for a week or stops getting haircuts because he no longer seems to care about his personal appearance, that can be an indicator of [mild cognitive impairment] and requires follow-up with a medical professional."Related: Forgetting steps in the shower repeatedly is only one symptom of cognitive decline. Dr. Aziz also suggests that people be aware of the following other red flags: Forgetting things often or struggling to retain new information ("This can manifest as repeatedly asking the same questions," Dr. Aziz says.) Inability to perform familiar tasks, like getting dressed or meal preparation Family and friends voice concerns Putting items in unusual or illogical places Making poor decisions, including neglecting personal safety Rapid mood swings Withdrawal Suspicion Aggression Brief confusion about the day or week before quickly realizing the accurate date Getting lost in unfamiliar places but can figure out how to get back Getting lost in familiar places, like the supermarket Confusion about time, place and identity Losing track of the date, season or passage of time Related: Experts recommend expressing concerns about cognitive decline to a primary care doctor first."The doctor can do a basic checkup and may run tests to rule out other causes like vitamin deficiencies or medication side effects," Dr. Hafeez says. "If needed, they may refer the person to a neurologist specializing in brain health. A neurologist can do more detailed tests to understand what's going on." She explains that early detection can also help improve a person's quality of life, sharing, "Seeing a doctor early is important because some causes of memory problems can be treated. It also helps create a care plan if a long-term condition is found." Dr. Aziz says a care plan for cognitive decline might include lifestyle tweaks like: Regular exercise Eating nourishing foods, like the ones included in the Mediterranean Diet and MIND Diet Developing new skills and pursuing hobbies that keep the mind engaged Engaging with families and friends Getting enough sleep Limiting or eliminating alcohol intake Family and friends can also help in these efforts and others."For caregivers, providing written instructions for care and breaking down complex tasks into simpler, manageable steps can facilitate daily activities," Dr. Aziz says. "Creating a comfortable, safe and reassuring environment for activities like bathing can reduce anxiety and resistance. Encouraging participation and offering limited choices can help individuals maintain a sense of control and dignity." Up Next:Dr. Joel Salinas, MD, the co-founder and chief medical officer of Isaac Health Dr. Sanam Hafeez, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist and the director of Comprehend the Mind Dr. Adel Aziz, MD, a neurologist with JFK University Medical Center Improving oral hygiene for better cognitive health: Interrelationships of oral hygiene habits, oral health status, and cognitive function in older adults. JAN. Dr. John Showalter, MD, MSIS, a board-certified internal medicine and informatics specialist and the chief operating officer of Linus Health The Brain Health Red Flag That Shows Up in the Shower first appeared on Parade on Jul 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
One Year Later: How Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance forced his media allies to turn on him
The legacy media largely shielded Joe Biden from negative coverage of his health, age and cognitive decline during his presidency, but that all changed on June 27, 2024, when his disastrous debate performance changed the course of history. Biden appeared frail and struggled with a weak voice, delivering rambling answers while frequently appearing to lose his train of thought during the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign against President Donald Trump in Atlanta. Biden fumbled key answers and famously declared, "We finally beat Medicare," when he apparently meant to say that he beat big pharma. At one point, as the two candidates traded fire over the issue of immigration, Trump pounced after another rambling answer from Biden. "I really don't know what he said on this, and I don't think he knows what he said either," Trump said. DePauw University professor and media critic Jeffrey McCall said the infamous on-stage debacle was one of the rare instances that a presidential debate truly impacted the trajectory of the election. "Up until that debate, the establishment media were firmly in the Biden campaign camp, covering up evidence that was in plain sight that the president was cognitively and physically in decline. The media shamelessly repeated White House talking points about deep fakes and how vigorous and mentally sharp Biden was," he told Fox News Digital. "These narratives were false, of course, but that didn't matter to the mainstream reporters as they felt compelled to cover for Biden, in spite of what citizens could see plainly on the rare occasions when Biden was allowed to speak in public," McCall said. "The primary motive of the activist press, of course, was to try to deny Trump any traction in the election season," he continued. "The poor debate performance by Biden ripped the Band-Aid off, forcing the media to turn on a dime and begin the drumbeat to run Biden out of the race because he was too old and incapable." The debate meltdown caused an earthquake across the media landscape, ranging from "dismal" reviews to vocal calls on the left for him to withdraw from the 2024 race. CNN's John King put a spotlight on the "very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party" that began in the early minutes of the debate. "This was a game-changing debate in the sense that right now, as we speak, there is a deep, a wide and a very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party," King told viewers. "It involves party strategists, it involves elected officials, it involves fundraisers. And they're having conversations about the president's performance, which they think was dismal, which they think will hurt other people down the party in the ticket, and they're having conversations about what they should do about it." King's CNN colleague Kasie Hunt similarly wrote on X, "The voice, open-mouthed look, and visual contrast between President Biden and former President Trump all have Democrats I'm talking to nearly beside themselves watching this debate." Then-NBC News pundit Chuck Todd admitted that Biden looked like the "caricature" conservatives have painted of him, specifically over his mental acuity. Bloomberg Opinion editor Tim O'Brien wrote on X, "Biden simply comes across as a somewhat dazed punching bag." "The View" co-host Joy Behar suggested the program was "in mourning" and urged Democrats to pivot away from Biden in order to keep Trump out of the White House. "That was quite a turnaround from the reporting templates of previous weeks. But the media finally realized, based on the disastrous debate performance, that Biden's chances of winning the election were fading quickly," McCall said. The debate, which came after a flood of liberal anger towards a Wall Street Journal report that raised questions about the president's viability, was essentially the beginning of the end for Biden's time on the ticket. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, a longtime Biden ally, wrote that the debate "made me weep" and realized Biden should step aside. "I cannot remember a more heartbreaking moment in American presidential campaign politics in my lifetime — precisely because of what it revealed: Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election," Friedman wrote. Fellow Times' columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote on X that he wished "Biden would reflect on this debate performance and then announce his decision to withdraw from the race." CNN commentator Van Jones, who cried for joy when Biden won the 2020 presidential election, offered an emotional plea for the president to step aside. The Atlantic's Mark Leibovich penned a piece titled "Time to go, Joe." "Biden needs to step aside—for the sake of his own dignity, for the good of his party, for the future of the country," Leibovich told readers. The aggregate website Drudge Report blared the headline "OPERATION: REPLACE BIDEN." "DEMS SCRAMBLE WITH 130 DAYS TO GO! DEBATE CATASTROPHE," the Drudge Report wrote in all caps. It included a poll question over who would be the best Democrat to replace him out of Hillary Clinton, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Kamala Harris or "Other." MSNBC's "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough suggested Biden might need to step down. "If he were CEO, and he turned in a performance like that, would any corporation in America, any Fortune 500 corporation in America keep him on as CEO?" Scarborough asked. Biden stepped aside the following month, suspending his re-election campaign and quickly offered his "full support and endorsement" for then-Vice President Kamala Harris to take over as the party's presidential nominee. "The media then quickly got on the Harris bandwagon, with as little scrutiny as they had given Biden in previous months. The media promoted Harris as cool and energetic, and even helped label her as a pop culture 'brat.' The activist media virtually ignored that Harris didn't win any primary votes and was rushed through the nominative convention without having to deal with any opposition," McCall said. "Overall, the media's poor performance in covering the Biden administration up to the debate and then the media's abrupt turnaround is perhaps the most shameful and egregious example of journalistic malpractice in American history," he added. "This episode showed that the news industry was not interested in reporting reality to help a citizenry understand the situation. Instead, the mainstream media collectively engaged in activism, demonstrating a cynical attempt to herd public sentiment. That effort eventually failed, with the consequence for the media being a further decline in credibility," McCall concluded.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jill Biden's 'work husband' runs for cover as privilege protection crumbles
Anthony Bernal, the former advisor to former first lady Jill Biden, is refusing to appear before the House Oversight Committee to be questioned about the alleged cover-up of former President Joe Biden's mental decline. Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said in a press release Tuesday that Bernal was refusing to appear on June 26 for a transcribed interview, as part of the committee's investigation into the Biden cover-up, and also the potentially unauthorized use of autopen for executive actions and pardons. "Now that the White House has waived executive privilege, it's abundantly clear that Anthony Bernal – Jill Biden's so-called 'work husband' – never intended to be transparent about Joe Biden's cognitive decline and the ensuing cover-up," Comer said. "With no privilege left to hide behind, Mr. Bernal is now running scared, desperate to bury the truth. The American people deserve answers and accountability, and the Oversight Committee will not tolerate this obstruction." The chairman added that if Bernal does not wish to come on his own, he will issue a subpoena to compel Bernal to provide testimony before the committee. House Republicans Inch Closer To Answers As Former Biden Advisors Lose Executive Privilege Shield Letters obtained by Fox News Digital from a source familiar with the matter show the Trump administration will not allow the people of interest in Comer's probe to use their past White House work as a legal shield. Read On The Fox News App Deputy Counsel to the President Gary Lawkowski sent the letters to former Biden Chief of Staff Ron Klain, former senior advisors Anita Dunn, Steve Ricchetti, Mike Donilon, Annie Tomasini, Bruce Reed, Ashley Williams and Bernal. "In light of the unique and extraordinary nature of the matters under investigation, President Trump has determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not in the national interest, and therefore is not justified, with respect to particular subjects within the purview of the House Oversight Committee," the letters said. "Those subjects include your assessment of former President Biden's fitness for the office of the President and your knowledge of who exercised executive powers during his administration." Top Biden Officials Summoned To Testify About Alleged Cover-up Of Former President's Mental Fitness Congressional Republicans and the White House are investigating whether the senior Biden aides in question played any role in keeping concerns about the former president's mental acuity shielded from the public eye and even from lower-level White House staffers. "Just yesterday, we heard from our first witness, Neera Tanden, the former Staff Secretary who controlled the Biden autopen," Comer said Wednesday. "Ms. Tanden testified that she had minimal interaction with President Biden, despite wielding tremendous authority. She explained that to obtain approval for autopen signatures, she would send decision memos to members of the President's inner circle and had no visibility of what occurred between sending the memo and receiving it back with approval. "Her testimony raises serious questions about who was really calling the shots in the Biden White House amid the President's obvious decline," Comer continued. "We will continue to pursue the truth for the American people." House Gop Secures Four Key Witnesses In Biden Mental-decline Probe As Former Aides Agree To Talk Bernal's team previously confirmed he would appear for a transcribed interview on June 26, 2025, according to Comer's office. But yesterday, the White House counsel's office notified Bernal that it was waiving executive privilege regarding the Oversight Committee's investigation. Bernal's legal team then told the committee he would no longer appear for the interview. Comer's team said in the press release that during the last Congress, the chairman subpoenaed three key White House aides, including Bernal, who allegedly ran interference for Biden to cover up his decline. Despite the subpoenas, the White House under Biden allegedly obstructed the committee's investigation by refusing to make the aides available for interviews or depositions. Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this article source: Jill Biden's 'work husband' runs for cover as privilege protection crumbles
