Fact Check: Biden has dementia

Fact Check: "Biden has dementia"

What We Know

The claim that President Joe Biden has dementia has gained traction, particularly in light of recent reports and a new book titled Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. The book suggests that Biden's inner circle has actively concealed evidence of his mental decline from the public and even from some within his administration (NPR).

In interviews, Biden has exhibited memory lapses, such as struggling to recall significant events from his life, including the year he left office as vice president and the date of his son Beau's death (BBC). A report by Special Counsel Robert Hur described Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," which has raised concerns about his cognitive abilities (BBC).

Furthermore, surveys indicate that a significant portion of the American public, including many Democrats, believe Biden is too old to serve effectively as president (AP News).

Analysis

The evidence surrounding Biden's cognitive health is mixed and requires careful consideration. The claims of dementia are primarily supported by anecdotal evidence from the aforementioned book and reports of Biden's memory lapses during public appearances and interviews. Critics argue that these instances reflect a decline in cognitive function, while supporters contend that such lapses are not uncommon in aging individuals and do not necessarily indicate dementia (NPR, BBC).

The reliability of the sources varies. The book by Tapper and Thompson, while based on interviews with over 200 individuals, may carry biases as it is written by journalists with a specific narrative focus (NPR). On the other hand, the Special Counsel's report, which describes Biden's memory issues, comes from a formal investigation and may be viewed as more credible, although it too could be influenced by political motivations (BBC).

Neurologists have pointed out that memory loss can be a complex issue requiring thorough diagnosis, and that not all memory lapses are indicative of dementia (NY Times). Biden himself has publicly rejected claims about his cognitive decline, asserting, "My memory is fine" (NBC News).

Conclusion

The claim that "Biden has dementia" is Partially True. While there are credible reports of memory lapses and concerns about cognitive decline, there is no definitive medical diagnosis of dementia publicly available. The evidence suggests that Biden may be experiencing cognitive issues related to aging, but these do not conclusively amount to dementia. The narrative is further complicated by political motivations and differing interpretations of the evidence.

Sources

1. Biden-Harris administration announces Medicare dementia care model
2. New book details how Biden's mental decline was kept hidden
3. Audio reveals Joe Biden's memory lapses during 2023 investigation - BBC
4. Age and health concerns about Joe Biden
5. Joe Biden's mental acuity becomes a Democratic litmus test
6. Memory Loss Requires Careful Diagnosis, Scientists Say
7. Newly released audio reveals Joe Biden's memory lapses - ABC News
8. As Biden's memory issues draw attention, neurologists weigh in - NBC News