Now that many of us have been caring for older loved ones who have succumbed to various forms of dementia, it has been easier to spot its warning signs in others. Such is the case with the former president’s nephew, Fred Trump III. Fred Trump has seen Alzheimer’s Disease in many of his relatives. Fred Trump makes it clear that he is not a doctor; however, Alzheimer’s disease is so prevalent in his family that he feels a duty to warn our nation because he sees the same characteristics in his uncle as in his older relatives.
We should pay attention to the myriads of well-respected mental health professionals who are speaking out about Donald Trump’s dementia as well. For example, Dr. John Gartner formed a group called “Duty to Warn.” All members of this group are mental health professionals who have concluded that Donald Trump’s mental state is dangerous to the well-being of our nation. Psychiatrists and psychologists normally do not comment publicly about the mental health of public officials. However, there is one exception to this rule. There is a “duty to warn” if mental health professionals believe that a public figure may harm others. Experts are desperate to warn the public: hundreds sign Dr. John Gartner’s Trump dementia petition. Salon.com
The mainstream press appears reluctant to call Trump’s verbal word salad “dementia”; instead, it is being called “cognitive decline,” inferring that his verbal fumbles are due to normal aging. There is a distinctive difference between the two.
While people over sixty (generally) may exhibit increased problems with recalling names, multitasking, finding words, and experiencing mild decreases in the ability to pay attention (National Institute on Aging); Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that causes memory loss, impaired thinking, and personality changes (health.harvard.edu).
Donald Trump’s behaviour has indeed become dangerous. Salon’s senior writer, Chauncey Devega, wrote last March:
As seen in the last few weeks and months, Donald Trump’s dangerousness is rapidly escalating. At his rallies and other events, Donald Trump is exhibiting obvious and repeated examples of challenges in his speech, language, and memory. In a widely read series of conversations here at Salon, Dr. John Gartner, who is a prominent psychologist and contributor to the bestselling book “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President,” has been warning that Trump is apparently suffering from dementia or some other type of brain disease.
Five months later, Trump’s behavior has only extrapolated. We cannot afford to make him our Commander in Chief.
by Susan Olsen
Susan, I agree.