Following a wave of media speculation suggesting that U.S. President Joe Biden may have Parkinson’s disease, a distinguished neurologist with dual board certification has put forth an alternative possibility—vascular dementia. He emphasized the importance of Biden undergoing neurological testing and an MRI scan to either confirm or rule out concerns related to the condition.
The expert suggested that Biden’s medical history could contribute to the likelihood of this diagnosis. After evaluating the reported symptoms alongside those associated with Parkinson’s, he leaned toward vascular dementia as a more plausible explanation.
In a recent interview, Dr. Russell Surasky shared his professional insights on the President’s health, addressing widespread reports raising alarms about Biden’s cognitive abilities.
While expressing empathy for the President, Dr. Surasky was critical of Biden’s staff, accusing them of possibly concealing a serious health issue that might not be Parkinson’s disease. He pointed out that in February, Biden’s personal physician conducted a thorough medical examination and ruled out Parkinson’s as a diagnosis.
At present, Biden does not display the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Unlike the characteristic shuffling gait seen in Parkinson’s patients, Dr. Surasky observed that Biden walks with a steady stride in recent video footage. Additionally, the President does not exhibit the unilateral resting tremor or the distinctive cogwheel rigidity typically associated with the disease.
Dr. Surasky urged Biden to undergo a full neurological evaluation, which would involve an extensive series of medical tests assessing motor skills, memory recall, and cognitive function. He highlighted the role of MRI scans in diagnosing vascular dementia.
Examining Biden’s potential risk factors, the President has a history of atrial fibrillation—an irregular heartbeat that may reduce blood flow to the brain—as well as two previous brain aneurysms, which could lead to a rupture or bleeding in the brain, increasing the likelihood of cognitive impairment.