What Is Frontotemporal Dementia That Psychologists Claim Donald Trump Is Exhibiting Signs Of?
Supriya Ramesh
HealthandMe
Donald Trump’s health has once again become a hot talking point, but this time it is not about his diet or late-night Twitter habits. Instead, two psychologists are raising red flags about something far more serious: dementia. According to them, the US president has been showing what they describe as a “dead ringer telltale sign” of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and they warn that the symptoms appear to be getting “worse and worse”.
What Are The Psychologists’ Concern?
Clinical psychologists Dr. Harry Segal and Dr. John Gartner, hosts of the podcast Shrinking Trump, claim that Trump’s psychomotor functioning has visibly deteriorated. Speaking to The Guardian, Dr. Gartner said, “Some of the more evidence that we’ve been talking about recently has been his psychomotor performance, that we’re seeing a deterioration in his motor performance, which also goes with dementia because with dementia there’s a deterioration of all faculties, all functions.”
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Adding to the intrigue, the Mirror reported that Trump has been spotted “frantically” trying to hide the back of his hand, fuelling speculation about his health. According to Dr. Gartner, Trump’s verbal slips, struggles with language, and now motor difficulties fit the pattern of a neurodegenerative disorder. He even suggested Trump may have more than one form of dementia, but he believes one stands out: frontotemporal dementia.
“One of the things that one of the neuropsychologists that we were working with last year pointed out that is almost a dead ringer telltale sign of frontotemporal dementia is something they call a wide-based gait, where you have a sort of one of your limbs, one of your legs, and you kind of swing it in a semicircle,” Dr. Gartner explained.
What Is Frontotemporal Dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is not a single disease but a group of disorders that attack the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. These regions control personality, social behaviour, and language, the very things that often change first in people with the condition.
Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which is better known, FTD often shows up earlier, typically between the ages of 40 and 65. However, it can appear later in life, making it tricky to diagnose. Many patients are first misdiagnosed with psychiatric conditions or even Alzheimer’s because the symptoms overlap.
Symptoms Of Frontotemporal Dementia That Raise Eyebrows
The Mayo Clinic states that the symptoms of FTD vary depending on the most affected part of the brain. The progression is gradual but relentless.
Behavioural symptoms include:
- Socially inappropriate behaviour.
- Loss of empathy and sensitivity to others.
- Poor judgement and impulsivity.
- Apathy that can be mistaken for depression.
- Compulsive habits such as tapping, clapping, or repetitive lip-smacking.
- Decline in hygiene.
- Odd eating habits – from sudden sugar cravings to chewing on non-food items.
Language-related symptoms include:
- Trouble understanding and producing speech.
- Difficulty finding the right words.
- Using vague terms like “it” instead of specific words.
- Simplified, telegraphic speech.
- Errors in building sentences.
Movement-related symptoms (less common but significant) include:
- Tremors, stiffness, or muscle spasms.
- Difficulty swallowing or weakness.
- Poor balance leading to falls.
- Inappropriate emotional outbursts like laughing or crying.
The “wide-based gait” noted by Dr. Gartner falls into this movement-related cluster, aligning with the suspicion of FTD.
What Causes Frontotemporal Dementia?
FTD literally shrinks the brain; the frontal and temporal lobes undergo atrophy while abnormal proteins accumulate. The precise cause is not always clear, but genetics plays a role in some cases. Mutations in certain genes overlap with conditions like ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), hinting at a deeper biological link that scientists are still trying to untangle.
Interestingly, over half of people diagnosed with FTD have no family history of dementia, meaning the condition can strike seemingly out of the blue.
Who is At Risk?
The only established risk factor is family history. Unlike heart disease or type 2 diabetes, lifestyle choices have not been clearly tied to developing FTD. Still, because it often appears earlier than Alzheimer’s, it can be devastating for families, robbing individuals of their personality, judgement, and communication skills during what should be the prime of life.
While Trump’s team has not confirmed or denied any health concerns, the observations of Dr. Segal and Dr. Gartner point to a broader issue: recognising the early signs of dementia in public figures and ordinary people alike. If the psychologists are correct, the president may be experiencing symptoms that fit squarely within the profile of frontotemporal dementia.
How Long Do People With Frontotemporal Dementia Live?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a progressive condition, where symptoms gradually get worse over time. Life expectancy is very variable as some live more than 10 years after diagnosis, whereas others might survive less than two years. As the illness progresses, many people need full-time care, including 24-hour care.
Since FTD impacts both cognitive and behavior functions, it is necessary to plan ahead. Early planning of financial, legal, and caregiving plans is encouraged for families to properly support the person as the disease worsens.
What Are the 7 Stages of Frontotemporal Dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia does not develop the same for all, but clinicians and researchers like to break it down into seven stages to assist families and caregivers in knowing what lies ahead. Each stage points out how thinking, memory, behavior, and physical health might change over time.
Stage 1: Mild Cognitive Changes
- Small memory slips and less concentration
- Early indication of trouble concentrating on tasks
- Little interference with daily living
Stage 2: Behavioral and Decision-Making Changes
- Notable impulsivity, apathy, or disinhibition
- Difficulty with judgment and problem-solving
- Increased difficulties in work or social environments
Stage 3: Language Difficulty
- Difficulty in retrieving words and expressing self
- Effort to follow conversations or complicated directions
- Greater communication difficulty
Stage 4: Daily Function Decline
- Finding difficulty in managing home tasks and routines
- Difficulty with planning and flexibility
- Decreased independence in daily functioning
Stage 5: Personality Changes and Mood Instability
- Marked changes in personality and social behavior
- Frequent and pronounced mood swings, irritability, or emotional withdrawal
- Increased strain in relationships
Phase 6: Severe Memory Loss
- Difficulty in recognizing familiar individuals or locations
- Restricted recollection of past events
- High dependence on cues, reminders, or caregiver assistance
Phase 7: Advanced Cognitive and Physical Decline
- Extreme impairment in cognitive functioning and loss of verbal communication
- Reduced mobility and physical frailty
- Increased susceptibility to infections and other health issues
What is Stage 7 of Frontotemporal Dementia?
Stage 7 of frontotemporal dementia is the most severe and advanced stage of the disease, where mental, behavioral, and physical capacities degenerate significantly. Cognitive impairment is severe at this stage, with minimal or no capacity for verbal communication. Language functioning that had already been impaired in previous stages is nearly completely lost, with the individual unable to make statements or comprehend discourse. Memory loss becomes extreme, usually to the point that they might not be able to identify close relatives.
Physical health also declines considerably, with mobility problems becoming more severe, causing a higher risk of falls, immobility, and infections like pneumonia or urinary tract infections. Due to this decline, individuals in Stage 7 usually need to be in full-time care for even the most fundamental daily tasks, such as eating, bathing, and toileting. This stage is usually marred by increased susceptibility to other health issues, necessitating medical and caregiving intervention in order to ensure comfort and quality of life.
What is Bruce Willis’s Health Update? He Was Also Diagnosed With FTD Over Three Years Ago
The 70-year-old “Die Hard” and “Sixth Sense” star was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia more than three years ago. In 2023, his family revealed the condition.