A psychologist has alleged that Donald Trump may be exhibiting early signs of dementia, particularly in his motor skills, and highlighted a "telltale" sign in his right leg that could indicate the former president is battling a specific type of the condition.
Dr. John Gartner has voiced concerns about Trump's coordination, which he believes has worsened over time, suggesting this decline could be symptomatic of dementia.
"When we talk about deterioration from dementia, I was focusing on language because that's the thing we most observe, but also we always see deterioration in motor performance," he explained during an appearance on The Dean Obeidallah Show.
Old footage vs present stumbles Dr. Gartner observed changes in Trump's motor abilities citingg old footage of the 79-year-old engaging in sports. This analysis comes amid renewed worries about Trump's cognitive health following what some are calling an "obvious sign" with comparisons being drawn to Biden.
"We found some of him doing athletic activities in the 80s. I have a film of him playing volleyball, diving to dig the ball and popping up and hitting a high shot, he was very coordinated," Dr. Gartner remarked.
"And now, you know he really does have trouble getting up the stairs, he does trip and fall," he added.
While acknowledging that a single fall isn't conclusive evidence of dementia, Dr. Gartner insists there are additional indicators.
"I hate to do a gotcha thing 'Oh he tripped on the stairs,' but no, his gait is slow, he is falling," he said during the recently aired programme.
‘Telltale’ leg swing The psychologist asserted that Trump has repeatedly displayed a symptom which is "diagnostic" of Frontotemporal dementia, mentioning that other medical professionals have also observed this sign in him.
"The other thing that's actually even more diagnostic, and I had a neurologist point this out and then several neurologists confirmed it, if you watch the way he walks, he has what they call a leg swing, where his right he kind of swings it in a semicircle like it's a dead weight, and he's just kind of swinging it around," Dr. Gartner detailed.
"It's very apparent in some tape and not so much in others, but that right leg swing is considered to be very diagnostic of a specific type of dementia, Frontotemporal dementia," he continued.
Dr. Gartner mentioned that forensic psychiatrist Dr. Zoffman even told him that "she's absolutely convinced that it's Frontotemporal dementia that he has because of that telltale right leg swing."
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is a rare form of dementia characterized by behavioral and language difficulties. It targets the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain and typically progresses slowly, worsening over time.
Recent footage fuels speculation Concerns about Trump's right leg aren't new; observers recently pointed out the president limping up the steps of Air Force One, favoring his left leg.
An X user shared a video from Right Side Broadcasting Network, commenting on Trump's posture: "That left leg is doing all the heavy lifting. He's really making sure that it's firmly placed," as reported by Mirror US.
This observation comes amid various clips circulating social media over the past year that show Trump dragging his right leg.
Former federal and state Prosecutor Ron Filipkowski highlighted Trump's mobility issues, tweeting in October: "Montage of clips of Trump dragging his right leg over the last few months. He refuses to release his medical records," showcasing several instances where the former president seemed to struggle physically.
What the White House says Nevertheless, in April, Trump's White House physician declared him in tip-top shape. Captain Sean Barbabella assured the public of Trump's health with a statement: "President Trump exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State," following the president's initial annual physical exam of his second term.
The medical evaluation included neurological tests assessing mental status, nerves, motor function, sensory function, and reflexes, where Trump displayed no indicators of depression or anxiety, according to the memo.
The president also aced the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a test used to detect cognitive impairment and early signs of dementia, by scoring a perfect 30 out of 30, the physician noted.
Post-cognitive assessment, Trump told journalists with pride that he "got every answer right." He expressed confidence about his well-being: "Overall, I felt I was in very good shape," adding, "A good heart, a good soul, a very good soul."
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