A majority of voters believe Vice President Kamala Harris President Joe Biden reported cognitive health issues.
This is according to a YouGov/Times of London poll conducted among 1,170 voters on 22nd and 23rd July.
Biden’s Health issues Despite being kept in secrecy, 92% said they thought the vice president was well aware of the situation.
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Overall, 68% of respondents believe Biden’s decline was due to his perception of Harris.
“I have no way of knowing what was going on in Kamala’s head or what she’s been through interacting with Joe Biden,” said Jonathan Alpert, a New York-based psychotherapist and author. New York CityFox News Digital said.
Many voters believe Vice President Kamala Harris knew about President Joe Biden’s cognitive health issues. (Getty Images)
“Perhaps it was difficult for his doctors to notice the changes because they saw him regularly,” said Dr Alpert, who has not treated Biden.
“Obviously, this is just speculation and we don’t know the official diagnosis.”
Judy Gaman, CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas, a premium medical services provider in Southlake, previously spoke to Fox News Digital about the failure of those around Biden to seek help on behalf of the president.
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“Either they’ve been watching this happen for so long that they’re not very sensitive to the contrast, or they’re fully aware but can’t bear the thought of what would happen to their family (on so many levels) if Joe dies. No longer the president“I don’t think there’s any way to treat a commander in chief like that,” said Gaman, who has never treated a current commander in chief.
Biden’s health concerns
Potential signs of cognitive decline have long been discussed, but the issue came to the forefront after Biden sparked concern during the June 27 presidential debate, when he appeared at times incoherent and had unclear train of thought on national television.
The 81-year-old president appeared to freeze up on multiple occasions during public appearances on stage.
A new poll finds that of people who believe potential issues regarding Joe Biden’s health were covered up, 92% believe the vice president was fully aware of the situation. (Getty Images)
Mid-July, Biden Tested positive for COVID-19A statement on the White House website said the president experienced upper respiratory symptoms, including “runny nose, dry cough and general fatigue.”
On July 23, the president’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, released a letter saying Biden’s symptoms had subsided and that he would “continue to be monitored for any recurrence of his illness.”
68% of poll respondents believe that Biden’s drop in approval rating is due to his perception of Harris.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had seen neurologists multiple times as part of his presidential campaign. Regular health check-upHowever, he was not receiving treatment for any neurological disorders.
The danger of denial
Outside of politics, experts say it’s common for families and loved ones to avoid confronting signs of cognitive decline and possible dementia.
“Ask any family member affected by Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s and they will tell you that what we are seeing is real. [here] “It’s a typical symptom that most families who face this condition have in common,” Gaman said. Her mother also Alzheimer’s disease.
Signs of possible cognitive problems emerged after the president raised concerns during the June 27 presidential debate with his at-times incoherent speech and slurred thinking. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, Andrew Caballero Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“His story just happens to be playing out on a bigger stage,” Gaman added. “Let’s not forget that all those who have rallied around Biden and are suppressing the truth have something to gain personally from his continued presence in office.”
Alpert noted that in some cases, the signs may genuinely be missed.
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“Generally speaking, family members who see their loved ones regularly may not be as sensitive to cognitive decline as those who only see them occasionally,” he said.
“For example, someone who sees their grandma once a year around the holidays is more likely to notice decline than someone who sees her monthly.”
“When family members or loved ones deny their loved one’s cognitive decline, this can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.”
That’s because cognitive decline is usually gradual at first, he noted.
“Early signs are subtle, perhaps Normal aging Or stress.”
In other cases, Alpert said, people experiencing cognitive decline may find ways to adapt and develop strategies to compensate for their cognitive impairment, so that their symptoms are less noticeable to close family and friends.
“While it may be easier to turn a blind eye in the short term, ultimately, denial will cause increased stress for loved ones as the condition worsens,” the psychologist said. (iStock)
Experts agree that denying cognitive decline serves no benefit to a person.
“When family members or loved ones deny their loved one’s cognitive decline, Diagnosis and Treatment “That person,” Mr. Alpert warned.
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“Dismissing obvious issues as ‘just a bad day’ or saying ‘everyone forgets sometimes’ does not serve the person and will only delay access to resources and proper management of symptoms,” she added.
Delaying treatment could also pose safety risks, experts agree.
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“It may be easier to look away in the short term, but in the end denial is the key. Increased stress As their condition worsens, they have to do that for their loved ones,” Alpert said.
“Having a proper medical diagnosis can also provide the clinical validation patients need to feel like they are actually understood.”
Delaying treatment could also pose safety risks for people experiencing cognitive decline, experts agree. (iStock)
In Alpert’s practice, he says he sometimes sees patients who are experiencing a variety of symptoms but aren’t sure exactly what’s going on.
“When I confirm the diagnosis, patients have some peace of mind knowing that their symptoms are real, part of a medical or psychological disorder, and not just made up,” he said.
In Biden’s case, experts say denying the possibility of cognitive impairment would be dangerous not just to the president but to the country as a whole.
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If Biden is experiencing cognitive decline, Medical considerations Gaman said his needs could put his health at risk.
“From a national perspective, this needs to be dealt with as a health crisis, not a political crisis,” she said.
President Biden boarded Air Force One on July 23, 2024, departing from Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, making his first public appearance since announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Gaman also noted that if Biden has any of these conditions, he may not understand the need to seek help.
“This is a great opportunity to increase research funding, raise awareness and encourage others working on this issue to come out of denial.”
We need to “inspire others who are working on this issue to come out of denial.”
Gaman said he wasn’t trying to diagnose the president, but rather was calling for the country to start a discussion about neurodegenerative diseases “especially as we see them on the rise.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign for comment but did not receive a response.
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In response to an earlier inquiry from Fox News Digital, the White House press office said “health was not a factor” in Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
“The President looks forward to completing his term and delivering even more historic accomplishments for the American people,” the White House said in a statement.
