JOE Biden's memory problems are being worsened by being in one of the most stressful jobs in the world and won't improve, an expert has claimed.
The 81-year-old president has been displaying worrying signs of cognitive decline in recent months, with a series of public gaffes that have given his detractors plenty of fuel to use against him running for another four years.
3
3
Democrat Biden incorrectly referred to French premier Emmanuel Macron as Francois Mitterand, who died in 1996, in a recent press conference and also spoke about a conversation with German chancellor Helmut Kohl, who died in 2017.
A special counsel report investigating Biden's handling of classified documents claimed his memory was "hazy, fuzzy, and poor," while also pointing out he was unable to recall how long he served as vice president under Barak Obama or when his son, Beau, died.
Biden snapped back, stressing “my memory’s fine," yet other rambling speeches, however, have cast huge doubts over his suitability to run in next year's election.
Memory expert Ronnie White, whose views are not influenced by political beliefs, is worried about what the future holds.
White, a two-time national memory champ, travels the country addressing seminars and conferences about the power of the mind and how to keep it operating at optimal strength, even during advancing years.
He suggests breathing exercises help calm the mind and allow people to process details more efficiently, while freely acknowledging memory decline happens to everyone.
He knows the pressures of fronting up in press conferences and addressing large crowds of people regularly would be unnerving for anyone, even an experienced orator like Biden, and could be a contributing factor to some of the recent high-profile blunders.
"My memory is a result of training, it's not a natural gift," White told The U.S. Sun.
But White suggests the most important way to keep memories fresh is to stay away from stress - which for the leader of the free world is impossible.
"There are many things people can do," White continued.
"Exercise, breathing exercises and hydration are also key but one of the worst enemies for memory is stress."
Being stressed out, White explains, causes the body to produce cortisol which inhibits brain function and, although Biden has been in politics for decades and knows the strains associated with the job, being the POTUS brings with it added pressures which are "impossible" to avoid.
"Sometimes he's [Biden's] not able to put words together, he'll just be in the middle of a sentence and then just come out like he's speaking a different language."
Memory expert Ronnie White
White says hearing Biden garble words during press conferences is worrying but is adamant the memory problems are symptomatic of a person in their 80s.
"Sometimes he's not able to put words together, he'll just be in the middle of a sentence and then just come out like he's speaking a different language," continued the expert.
"That's more than just the brain slowing down. To me, something's not working properly, maybe in the language centers of his brain.
"That's a little concerning to me, something's going on up there. And if this is where he's at today, where's he going to be at in four years?"
JOE BIDEN'S RECENT MEMORY PROBLEMS
Jan 28: Biden confuses François Mitterrand, the former French president who died in 1996, for France’s current president, Emmanuel Macron
Feb 6: Biden says he was talking to to the former German chancellor Helmut Kohl about his concerns over the European economic situation, despite Kohl died in 2017. He meant he had spoken with Angela Merkel.
Feb 8: In a report released by special counsel Robert Hur, Biden is described as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”
Feb 8: Biden appeared to confuse Mexico with Egypt, in a press conference about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Feb 22: Biden misnamed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia "Yolanda" at a press conference in Los Angeles after he had spent the morning in a private meeting with her.
Many observers believe the only person who could dissuade Biden from running for another term would be his wife, Jill.
Yet she has been championing her husband's cause and appears to be fully backing his charge to remain at the White House.
"Clearly, Jill knows him better than any of us, but I can't see how anybody close to him could think that he will have the mental capacity in four years," Texas-based White continued.
If you're on a plane and a stewardess says over the PA system: 'Can everyone say happy birthday to the pilot who is 81 today' there would be a lot of worried passengers."
Memory expert Ronnie White
"Perhaps she sees something we don't. Maybe she sees how sharp he is behind doors. But if you're on a plane and a stewardess says over the PA system: 'Can everyone say happy birthday to the pilot who is 81 today' there would be a lot of worried passengers.
"Cognitive decline happens to everyone and although strategic thinking can improve with experience, memory issues will persist. They won't get better, that's for sure. It's going to get worse."
The U.S. Sun contacted the White House for comment but didn't hear back.
3
