Concerns Raised About Biden’s Mental Fitness Following Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Dr. David Samady, a urologist, spoke with SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly on Monday about how early treatment for prostate cancer might impact former President Joe Biden’s mental health.
On Sunday, Biden’s office revealed that he was diagnosed with a “more aggressive form” of prostate cancer on Friday, which has metastasized to the bones. Kelly prompted a discussion about Biden’s medical history, referencing an article by Dr. Stephen Keey. She inquired whether Samady suggested Biden had received treatment before this public announcement and if that was linked to any mental health concerns.
Kelly posed the question, “Could President Biden’s cognitive decline be a side effect of prostate cancer treatment? A recent study indicated that all four objective measures and one subjective measure of cognitive functioning show significant impairment due to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) used for metastatic prostate cancer. Are there treatments that could cause cognitive decline?”
In response, Samady explained, “What he’s referring to is ADT or medications like Eligard or Lupron. These hormone therapies lower testosterone, which can also lead to symptoms akin to menopause and heart problems. One of the side effects can indeed be mental health issues, leading to some mental cloudiness.”
Concerns regarding Biden’s mental fitness emerged prior to his presidency, which began in January 2021. While many Democrats initially downplayed these worries, dissatisfaction grew within the party after a contentious debate with Donald Trump in June 2024.
Samady continued by mentioning Biden’s medical history, including two cerebral aneurysms in 1988. He noted that both age and political pressure might contribute to mental health challenges. “Biden has undergone multiple surgeries related to those aneurysms, which could affect his mental state. A few years ago, I expressed concern over his mental health. But as a physician, it’s tricky to enter political discussions, since the media can quickly turn against you for speaking out,” he said.
He added, “At 82 years old and dealing with considerable stress from a long political career, plus having had two episodes of cerebral aneurysms, it’s possible that issues like prostate cancer could have further implications, especially since it can spread to the bone. These scenarios and the side effects of hormone treatment could indeed lead to mental health challenges.”
The timeline of Biden’s cancer diagnosis and its potential aggression raised further queries about whether he had been experiencing difficulties during his presidency. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a former official from the Obama administration, stated on MSNBC that Biden likely developed this diagnosis “in the last 100 or 200 days” and probably had it since the beginning of his presidency in 2021. Other medical professionals have suggested to various outlets that Biden might have been dealing with cancer throughout his term.
