What is a typical degree of cognitive ability for a person in their 80s?
If re-elected in November, the current president would remain in office until he is 86. Meanwhile, the former president would be 82 at the end of his second term.
Both candidates have a history of speaking blunders. In a recent speech, the current president referenced dead European leaders and confused the presidents of Mexico and Egypt. The former president also stumbled in a speech when he mixed up a Republican presidential candidate with a former House Speaker.
A poll conducted in January found that a significant percentage of registered voters have concerns about the mental and physical fitness of the current and former presidents for a second term.
A decline in cognitive abilities is a normal part of healthy aging, according to experts. Common changes in thinking as people age include slower word and name recall, difficulty with multitasking, and mild decreases in attention span.
Certain parts of the brain important to learning and other mental activities shrink, connectivity between neurons may become less effective, blood flow may decrease, and inflammation may increase as someone ages.
Although some memory difficulties, such as mixing up names, are common with age, they do not necessarily indicate a broader problem with cognition or memory if they happen occasionally.
Factors other than age, such as illness, stress, distraction, and lack of sleep, can also influence thinking abilities from day to day.
A diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment is made when cognitive difficulties become frequent and fall outside what is considered normal aging. If these difficulties significantly impact everyday abilities, a clinical diagnosis of dementia can be made.
While certain cognitive abilities decline with age, other abilities related to knowledge and experiences may improve.
The assessment of cognition can be difficult, and doctors use various methods to determine if there are cognitive problems that go beyond normal aging. These methods include assessing any unusual changes, conducting brain imaging and medical tests, and using cognitive tests.
Neither candidate has released recent medical results regarding their cognitive functioning.
There is significant variation in how people age, and there are different trajectories of aging associated with disease, normal aging, and exceptional aging.
Superagers, who are people in their 80s with exceptional cognitive abilities, tend to have genetic and environmental factors that protect against aging. They also report strong social relationships, active lifestyles, and continuous challenges.
Publicly available medical data is not sufficient to determine if either candidate would fall into the category of superagers, but having parents with exceptional longevity may suggest a genetic advantage.
While concerns about the cognitive functioning of people in positions of power are valid, there is significant variability in how people age, and assuming the worst may be unfair.
The impact of ageism on society and individuals’ health is concerning, and it is important to challenge and address ageist mindsets.