Latest news with #MontrealCognitiveAssessment
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Physician explains brain fog isn't just fatigue: Here's what post Covid 19 patients should know
Back in October 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, The New York Times reported that brain fog is defined by memory loss, confusion, difficulty focusing, dizziness, and even having trouble speaking everyday words. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Anand Kalaskar, general physician, Apollo Clinic, Nigdi explained how brain fog can have detrimental impacts on everyday life. Also read | Say goodbye to brain fog: Diet plan for sharper focus, memory and mental clarity Brain fog is a common condition characterised by cognitive impairment such as difficulty concentrating, memory issues, and decreased mental clarity, among others. (Pexels) What is brain fog and what are its symptoms? Dr Kalaskar said, 'Brain fog is a nonprofessional term commonly used to describe a set of cognitive symptoms that include lapses in memory, difficulty with concentration, mental sluggishness, and reduced thought clarity.' This brain fog reportedly affects people who have had mild Covid-19 symptoms as well as those who experienced severe symptoms — it ranges. Dr Kalaskar added, 'In post-Covid-19 patients, brain fog is typically presented as forgetfulness, word-finding difficulty, slowing of processing speed, or persistent mental fatigue. The patients experience themselves as working in a fog and having difficulty focusing or getting things done effectively. The symptoms persist for weeks or months after recovery from acute infection.' Brain fog vs tiredness According to Dr Kalaskar, benign tiredness or fatigue usually resolves with rest, is not notably impairing cognition, and is generally nonspecific. Conversely, he said, neurological impairment from Covid-19 'usually includes objective cognitive impairments such as compromised memory, attentional impairment, disorientation, or executive dysfunction'. 'Clinically, if a patient presents with persistent cognitive impairment interfering with work or activities of daily living, particularly if these are accompanied by headache, dizziness, sleep, or mood change, neurological assessment is warranted. Even in patients with mild illness, brain fog can occur, and so complaints of cognition should not be written off as simple tiredness,' Dr Kalaskar said. Dr Kalaskar added that post-Covid-19, brain fog has been thought to be due to prolonged neuroinflammation provoked by a hyperimmune reaction to infection. 'Microvascular damage – micro clots or endothelial dysfunction – has also been thought to incapacitate oxygen and nutrient supply to brain tissue. Central nervous system invasion by the virus, blood-brain barrier disruption, and autonomic nervous system dysregulation have also been proposed. Mental issues like anxiety, depression, and post-viral fatigue also add to these symptoms,' he said. Can you get tested for brain fog? Dr Kalaskar shared that neurologists resort to 'a combination of clinical evaluation, cognitive screening tests, and imaging when necessary'. Routine tests are the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for memory, attention, and executive function, he said. 'In some cases, more detailed neuropsychological testing is indicated. MRI or functional MRI can be advised to exclude structural changes or vascular illness. Blood tests for inflammatory markers, thyroid function, vitamin B12, and D-dimer can be used to exclude other etiologies. Referral to a multidisciplinary long Covid-19 clinic may be indicated in severe or prolonged cases,' Dr Kalaskar said. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
The Hill
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Hill
3 in 4 want legally required, publicly disclosed presidential health tests: Survey
Three in four Americans want health test requirements for presidents that would be released to the public, a new survey released on Friday found. Seventy-four percent of respondents agreed there should be legal requirements for the sitting president to share health records, in an Axios/Ipsos poll, and 72 percent of respondents thought most elected officials aren't honest about their own health. Additionally, 81 percent of respondents said there should be age limits in place for federal officials, including presidents, Supreme Court justices and members of Congress. Only 40 percent of respondents said former presidents should legally have to share health records. The issue of health and cognitive abilities of sitting presidents has been in the spotlight since former President Biden's disastrous debate in June and eventual decision not to run for reelection. He was 82 when he left office and recently announced he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Earlier this week, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans accused former Biden Cabinet officials, Democratic members of Congress and the media of participating in a massive 'cover-up' to hide what they claim was the former president's obvious and alarming cognitive decline during his final two years in office. President Trump, who just turned 79 last week, is the oldest president to be inaugurated. He underwent an annual physical exam in April and his physician wrote in a memo that he was in 'excellent health.' The memo confirmed that Trump took the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a test commonly used to detect memory issues or cognitive impairment, and scored a 30 out of 30. Since he first left office in 2020, Trump had released limited information about his physical health. His campaign released a letter in November 2023 from his personal physician, with little specifics. Nikki Haley, Trump's former U.N. ambassador who challenged him in the 2024 GOP primary, called for cognitive tests for politicians over 75. 'To most Americans, this is common sense. But many political and media elites scoff at these ideas,' she wrote in May 2023. The survey was conducted June 13 to 16 and included 1,104 U.S. adults. It has a margin of error of +/-3.3 percentage points.
Medscape
11-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Sleep, Small Vessel Disease, and Cognition in Minor Stroke
Disturbed sleep was associated with greater small vessel disease (SVD) burden and worse cognitive performance in patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study analysed 422 patients with TIA or mild stroke from two prospective cohorts (Edinburgh-UK, n = 211 and Hong Kong, n = 211) between 2018 and 2022, with all participants assessed at 1-3 months post-stroke. Participants underwent brain MRI for assessing markers of SVD (Fazekas white matter hyperintensities [WMHs], lacunes, perivascular spaces, and microbleeds) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for evaluating cognition. Self-reported sleep metrics (in-bed time, nighttime sleep duration, sleep latency, and sleep efficiency) were extracted from an adapted Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The main outcome was SVD burden; the secondary outcome was the total MoCA score. TAKEAWAY: Longer in-bed time was independently associated with increased summary SVD burden (odds ratio [OR], 1.27 per 1-SD increase; false discovery rate-adjusted P = .04) and greater periventricular burden (OR, 1.53 per 1-SD increase; P = .003). = .04) and greater periventricular burden (OR, 1.53 per 1-SD increase; = .003). Increased sleep duration was not associated with cognitive performance/longer in-bed time was significantly associated with a lower total MoCA score (standardised β, −0.58; P = .02). = .02). Longer sleep duration was associated with an increased presence of cerebral microbleeds (OR, 1.42 per 1-SD increase; P = .04), although it was not significantly related to other SVD markers. = .04), although it was not significantly related to other SVD markers. In-bed time (r, 0.52) and sleep efficiency (r, 0.56) were positively correlated with sleep duration; sleep latency was negatively correlated with sleep duration (r, −0.24; P < .001 for all). IN PRACTICE: "2 markers of disturbed sleep, longer in-bed time and longer sleep duration, were cross-sectionally associated with greater SVD burden and worse cognitive performance in patients with TIA/mild stroke," the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Dillys Xiaodi Liu, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, and was published online on May 28, 2025, in Neurology . LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design and visual assessments of WMHs and brain atrophy limited precision. Patients with a history of sleep apnoea were not excluded, and changes in sleep quality over time were not assessed. As only baseline cross-sectional data were analysed, causal relationships cannot be established, and findings may differ in longitudinal contexts. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by the UK Dementia Research Institute, European Union Horizon 2020, Row Fogo Charitable Trust, and other funding agencies. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Donald Trump wearing a ‘hidden leg brace' to treat nerve damage? Speculation grows after US President's Air Force One stumble
Donald Trump's health is under scrutiny after he stumbled boarding Air Force One, fueling speculation about a leg brace due to an unusual bulge. This follows his physician's declaration of excellent health and a perfect cognitive assessment score. The incident draws comparisons to Trump's past criticisms of President Biden's stumbles, reigniting the debate on age and fitness in politics. These rumors come just weeks after Trump's physician, Captain Sean Barbabella, declared him to be in 'excellent cognitive and physical health.' Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Speculation over U.S. President Donald Trump 's health has intensified after he was seen stumbling while boarding Air Force One—and an unusual bulge under his pant leg has now sparked theories that he may be wearing a concealed leg brace.A photo shared by a Twitter user shows what appears to be a strange outline beneath Trump's trousers, prompting online chatter that he could be wearing Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFOs)—devices often prescribed for individuals with foot drop, a condition caused by nerve damage, according to a report by The Daily rumors come just weeks after Trump's physician, Captain Sean Barbabella, declared him to be in 'excellent cognitive and physical health.' In April, Trump underwent nearly five hours of medical evaluation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, including blood tests, cardiac screenings, ultrasounds, and a full neurological also reportedly scored a perfect 30/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. 'I got the highest mark,' Trump said at the time. 'Good heart, a good soul—very good soul.'The most recent incident occurred Sunday in Morristown, New Jersey, as Trump boarded Air Force One en route to Washington, D.C. Video footage shows him stumbling while gripping the handrail, catching his left foot on a step before quickly regaining his balance and continuing up the Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stumbled while boarding the aircraft that day. Though both recovered swiftly, Trump's misstep went viral on social media, with many users drawing comparisons to past incidents involving President Joe Biden In 2023, Trump mocked Biden for falling to his knees at the Air Force graduation ceremony in Colorado. 'I hope he wasn't hurt… you don't want that,' Trump said, while also referencing his own careful descent down a slippery ramp at West Point in 2020. 'You've got to be careful about that—even if you have to tiptoe down a ramp.'At the time, Trump had criticized Biden for what he called an inability to "walk up a flight of stairs on Air Force One" or "put two sentences together," describing the Biden administration as with Trump himself under scrutiny over a potential leg brace, the political narrative around age, health, and fitness is again under the spotlight.
Irish Daily Star
10-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Star
Fresh health fears sparked as Donald Trump's 'hidden leg brace' spotted
Images of Donald Trump looking over a construction project at the White House Rose Garden have sparked fresh speculation about his health as internet sleuths claim to have spotted something unusual New images of Donald Trump have sparked fresh speculation about the president's health as he's accused of wearing a hidden leg brace. After returning to the White House from Camp David, Maryland, on Monday, Trump headed out to the Rose Garden to look over a construction project currently taking place. The president was photographed speaking with construction workers while standing on a wooden board that had been placed on the lawn. Internet sleuths were quick to zoom in on the image and point out an unusual shape in his trouser leg as theories quickly spread online. "What's going on here?," one X account wrote as it shared four images of Trump's legs. There is another alarming theory for the mystery bulge on Trump's leg which is causing major fears. If you can't see the picture below, click here "Leg braces," one user responded. "Maybe to prevent the leaning," the original poster wrote back. Others agreed. One wrote: "Looks like he has medical knee braces on both of his legs!!!!!" A second commented: "Looks like he has some kind of brace on & his pants legs gathered around it." A third added: "He's wearing AFOs. Ankle Foot Orthotics. For foot drop. I wear one because of nerve damage to my spine. That's exactly what my pant leg looks like." Others speculated that he may have even been waring a catheter. "Foley catheter. Urinary incontinence is a symptom of late stage Prefrontal Temporal Dementia," one wrote. "He is wearing an urine bag or something,you can see the catheter under his pants," another claimed. But others dismissed the theories, claiming there was a much simpler explanation. "Wrinkles in his pants? Drrrr," one said. Another agreed, writing: "Wrinkles in the suite? Who tf cares?" The president was given a clean bill of health by his doctor, Captain Sean Barbabella, earlier this year. Some people also believe the strange, snaky lump just below his left knee could be a catheter. The White House physician said he was in 'excellent cognitive and physical health' in April. As part of a nearly five-hour medical examination at the Walter Reed hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, Trump received several blood tests, a cardiac examination and ultrasounds, his doctor said. He also underwent neurological tests on his mental status, nerves, motor and sensory function and reflexes and completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). He scored 30 out of 30, Dr Barbabella said. "I got the highest mark," Trump boasted. He said the exam showed a "good heart, a good soul, very good soul." Despite this, a political strategist for the Republican party has warned that Trump may not last four years as he claims the controversial leader could be showing signs of cognitive decline. Rick Wilson, who also co-founded the Lincoln Project, has warned that some experts are suggesting Trump may be in the early stages of dementia. Speaking to Times Radio, Rick claimed that Trump's decline was noticeable not just when compared to 2015, but to 2024 and his run for a second presidential term. He said: 'He is incoherent. His inability to articulate any thought or position without constant asides, constant lapses, the verbal aphasias he is experiencing at various points. 'As a very close observer of Trump since 2015, I can tell you the man you're watching today is not the Trump of 2015, nor is he the Trump of 2020, he's not even the Trump of 2024." He continued: 'There is a decline in Trump's ability to communicate, there is a decline in Trump's ability to articulate his thoughts. This is not uncommon when people get older.'
