Donald Trump’s health has once again come under the spotlight, as two clinical psychologists suggest that the US President is showing unusual signs linked to dementia. They believe that his condition appears to be worsening with time, raising fresh concerns about his fitness as he continues to remain active in public life.

What are the psychologists saying?

Clinical psychologists Dr Harry Segal and Dr John Gartner have been closely observing Trump’s recent behaviour. They expressed worry about his psychomotor functioning and argued that the 79-year-old is now showing clear signs of dementia.

In their podcast Shrinking Trump, Dr Gartner explained that Trump’s motor performance seems to be deteriorating. He noted that dementia affects all functions, including motor ability, and suggested that this decline is becoming more visible in Trump’s public appearances.

What unusual symptoms are being highlighted?

According to the psychologists, Trump has been making efforts to hide the back of his hand, which they describe as part of his “frantic” attempts to cover up health-related issues. They also pointed out that his public demeanour, speech, and language are already showing dysfunction. Now, they believe his physical movements are starting to show further decline.

Dr Gartner went on to say that he suspects Trump may not be suffering from just one form of dementia. He suggested that the president could be displaying signs of frontotemporal dementia, a condition that impacts behaviour and speech.

What is frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia is a relatively rare disorder that affects the front and sides of the brain. Like other types of dementia, it gets worse over several years. It commonly leads to problems with behaviour, speech, and motor function.

The psychologists pointed to one sign in particular, a wide-based gait. This occurs when one leg swings in a semicircle while walking, causing imbalance. A neuropsychologist who worked with them previously described this as a near certain sign of frontotemporal dementia.

Has Trump shown this behaviour in public?

The experts referred to videos from Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. In the footage, Trump appeared to struggle to walk in a straight line on the red carpet.

Dr Gartner observed that Trump seemed to weave from side to side. He noted that Trump’s right foot appeared to swing, pushing him left, after which he would overcorrect and move to the opposite side, repeating the same pattern again.

He explained that if Trump were asked to walk a straight line in a police sobriety test, he would not pass. Dr Segal agreed with this assessment, saying that he too noticed the unusual movement. He remarked that it looked strange, since Trump did not appear intoxicated, but was instead losing control of one of his legs.

What has Trump said about his health?

Despite the concerns raised, Trump has openly maintained that he is in good cognitive health. After his annual medical in April, he stated that he had achieved the highest score in his cognitive test. However, Dr Segal and Dr Gartner have previously commented that such a test is fairly simple to complete successfully, suggesting it is not a strong measure of cognitive decline.