Obesity and Advanced Age Are Risk Factors for Trump

In a recent interview, former President Trump was asked about his thoughts on the war in Ukraine. He started to answer the question and then veered off into a discussion of the problems of windmills. During the past six years that he has held a prominent political position, the media has developed a penchant for publishing his verbal slurs, mental stumbles, and confusing responses. He often claims that he has no memory of making those misstatements; he might not be lying.

Mind-wandering, confusion, and a reduced ability to organize and focus thoughts are classic early symptoms of dementia. In a recent interview with the New York Post, Mr. Trump speculated that he might not run for the presidency in 2024 due to his unstated health concerns. It can often take a decade, for those around a person with Alzheimer's, to be fully aware of that person's symptoms. The media noticed many years ago that Mr. Trump’s comments may be an indication either he or those around him are becoming aware of his cognitive decline. His lifestyle may underlie his risk of Alzheimer’s disease and should be seen as a lesson for everyone.

Today, an overwhelming body of scientific evidence across a wide spectrum of medical disciplines strongly argues that obesity, particularly long-standing obesity in the elderly, Mr. Trump is now 75 years old, impairs cognitive function and accelerates the aging of the brain. In 2020, Mr. Trump had a BMI of 30.5. His doctor at the time claimed that Mr. Trump is healthy but obese. That statement can never be true. Obesity-related diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular failure, are the greatest causes of death in the U.S.

Recent studies have defined the mechanisms by which excess body fat impairs cognitive function in the elderly. First, having too many fat cells leads to a condition of chronic, low-grade, body-wide inflammation. The presence of inflammation in the brain underlies both normal brain aging and dementia. Many laboratories around the world, including my own, have documented the mechanisms that underlie how excessive body fat impairs the function of the aging brain.

A recent study outlined the association between the degree of adiposity, or fat deposit, and cognitive dysfunction in the elderly. The authors concluded that obesity-induced pathological changes in the small blood vessels in the brain, including impaired endothelial function, impaired coupling between neurons and blood vessels, and a disrupted blood-brain barrier, contributing to the development of cognitive decline with aging.

The biological consequences of obesity and aging cannot be ignored if we hope to improve the health of the nation and improve the quality of life as we all get older. If you are older and obese, please consider contacting your local Agency on Aging or accessing the internet for free nutrition and weight loss counseling.