It’s not unreasonable for the electorate to expect members of Congress, as well as the President of the United States, to be of sound mind. Within the membership of this 118^th Congress there are fifty-two members; sixteen senators and thirty-six representatives, who are 75 years old, or older. The President is 80 years old.

There are four senators who are 80 years old, or older. Charles Grassley is 89. So is Diane Feinstein. Bernie Sanders is 81, and Mitch McConnell is 80.  In the House of Representatives there are twelve members who are 80 years old, or older. Eleanor Holmes Norton is 85. Harold Rogers and Bill Pascrell Jr. are also 85. Maxine Waters is 84. Steny Hoyer is 83. Both James Clyburn and Nancy Pelosi are 82. Danny Davis and John Carter are 81. And finally, Anna Eshoo and Frederica Wilson are both 80 years old. 

Some of these members have dementia. They might not realize it.  If they do recognize the symptoms, they might not want to admit it. But their memory loss is beyond common forgetfulness. They’re in the grip of a progressive illness that impairs their cognitive function. For a normal retiree, the early stages of dementia can be managed with little risk of harm to themselves or others. For people who create policy and laws, and authorize military operations, the risk of harm to others is much higher. The consequences of getting it wrong, are far more severe.

There’s a reason why the Federal Aviation Administration forces pilots to retire at sixty-five years of age. Motor skills, cognitive agility, and physical liveliness diminish with age. Forcing a pilot to retire at the age of sixty-five, even if he or she is of sound body and mind, might seem arbitrary. However, dementia doesn’t suddenly occur like a heart attack or stroke. It is a slow manifestation.  

Memory loss leading up to dementia is normally gradual. Stage 3 of the Global Deterioration Scale / Reisberg Scale indicates moderate cognitive decline without a dementia diagnosis. There are 7 stages in the Global Deterioration Scale / Reisberg Scale. Symptoms include:

• Increased forgetfulness
• Slight difficulty concentrating
• Decreased work performance
• Getting lost more frequently
• Difficulty finding the right words
• Loved ones begin to notice

The average duration of Stage 3 is between 2 years and 7 years. President Joe Biden exhibits this stage of cognitive decline regularly.

Stages 4 through 7 in the Global Deterioration Scale / Reisberg Scale each include a dementia diagnosis. Symptom severity increases throughout the stages.  In Stage 7 (Late Dementia) there is a very severe cognitive decline. A person with Stage 7 Late Dementia can no longer speak or communicate.  He or she can no longer walk. Most motor skills have been lost. Help is required for most activities.

In contrast, Stage 4 is categorized as Early Stage Dementia with moderate cognitive decline. The symptoms commonly associated with Stage 4 are as follows:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgets recent events
• Cannot manage finances
• Cannot travel alone to new places
• Difficulty completing tasks
• In denial about symptoms
• Socialization problems: Withdraw from friends or family
• Physician can detect cognitive problems

Anyone who has experienced a loved one’s cognitive decline as a result of dementia knows how devastating the mental deterioration is for the sufferer and family. It’s a merciless malady that steals memories when we want them the most.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2021 approximately 11% of the American population, over the age of 65, were living with Alzheimer’s dementia.

2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures: At a Glance

• An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2021.
• More than 1 in 9 people (11.3%) age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s dementia.
• Two-thirds of Americans over age 65 with Alzheimer’s dementia (3.8 million) are women.
• Deaths due to Alzheimer’s between 2000 and 2019 has more than doubled, increasing 145%.
• 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Of the fifty-two members of Congress, plus President Biden, all age 75 or older, statistically, it’s likely six or seven of them are in various stages of dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease. I believe the two people that show the most obvious signs are President Joe Biden and Senator Diane Feinstein. 

This is all very unnerving and dangerous. Members of the U.S. Congress and the President make life changing decisions that can impact American lives for decades if not centuries. They vote to send U.S. troops into harms way. Their policies and responses to other nations make the difference between war and peace, not just for the United States, but for other nations around the globe. How is it that mandatory cognitive testing has not been established for our aging lawmakers yet? 

I support old age limits.  I believe a candidate or incumbent, 72 years old or older on Election Day, should be prohibited from appearing on the ballot.  I do not believe term limits will ever become law because the members of Congress are not going to vote themselves out of office – especially the younger members.  However, I have a hunch that those same younger members will see the benefit to their own political careers if older members are subject to a forced retirement age. Leadership positions will change hands more frequently as older members are forced into retirement. Generally, I think such a predictable turnover at the top would improve the congressional culture immensely. When rock bottom is hit, there’s only one direction to go, and that’s up!

Passing an “old age limit” law isn’t anywhere on the horizon. As with any other sweeping legislation, there would be some casualties. Timing is everything with these sorts of things. With Donald Trump (age 76) seeking the 2024 Republican Party nomination for President, such a bill would be dead on arrival. Unfortunately, politics comes way before principles nowadays.

Yesterday, Joe Biden’s annual physical results were announced. It’s reported that he’s fit to execute the duties of the presidency. And he may well be physically fit enough to serve as President. It’s his mental fitness that is in doubt. At his age, and with the symptoms of dementia that he frequently displays, President Joe Biden should be required to submit to verifiable cognitive testing. Any president over the age of 65 should be required to be tested annually for cognitive decline, other mental illnesses, and dementia. All members of Congress over the age of 70 should be required to undergo the same testing. 

There is no reasonable objection that can possibly outweigh the risks associated with ignoring a glaring problem that could easily jeopardize our safety and security. Older lawmakers shouldn’t need a mandate to be tested for dementia. If they truly cared about the United States more than themselves, they’d voluntarily submit to annual testing and be transparent about the results. Since voluntary testing is unlikely, Congress should introduce and pass legislation that sets forth the testing requirements.  President Biden should sign the bill into law, as soon as he recalls where he left his pen.