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.

Lottie Ryan, Irish television and radio presenter with RTE opened up about her perimenopause experience and how she felt 'out of control' before she realized that changes in her body was going through were hormonal.

She revealed that she felt she was 'losing control', as reported by the Irish Sun. She said that she initially could not understand why she was feeling so off and blamed the symptoms on stress. However, only after she had a chat with her mother that she realized her issues could be hormonal.

After having a conversation with her mother, she booked a follow-up with a medical professional, who confirmed that her symptoms were due to perimenopause.

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She spoke to Natural Life Magazine, and said, "At first I did not put two and two together, I just thought I was stressed, tired, maybe run down. It was not until I had a conversation with my mum about what she would gone through, then spoke to my childhood best friend, who is a women's health physio, that I started to thin, 'Hand on...this could be hormonal'."

She had recently turned 40, and recalled how her symptoms began to affect every part of her life. She said, "Before I knew what was going on, I felt like I was losing control of my mind, my memory, even my sense of self."

She further added, "One I got answers, it was like a fog lifted. I still have days where I have to manage things, but now I understand why they're happening, and that makes all the difference." She tells that what surprised her was the anxiety she started to feel. She revealed that she thought menopause was "about hot flushes and trouble sleeping". What she did not know was that it could affect your mental health. She says, "That was the biggest shock for me."

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What Is Perimenopause?

As per a 2019 study published in Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, perimenopause, or the menopausal transition, represents a period of time during which newly arising symptoms can present complex management decisions for providers. It is the period of time during which physiologic changes mark progression toward a woman's final menstrual period (FMP).

The phase begins with the onset of menstrual irregularities and continues until a woman reaches menopause, or one year after amenorrhea has occurred.

As Jean Miller, NP, at Franciscan Physician Network Winfield Health Center explains, "Perimenopause is the transition that occurs between a woman’s reproductive years and menopause, usually starting seven to ten years before the final period. It is important to remember that while this is a natural process, it is also one that varies for each woman, with some noticing little change and other experiencing more significant symptom."

Since the average age of menopause is 51, most women start to notice perimenopause symptoms in their 40s, which is also the case with Ryan.

Gynecologist psychiatrist Dr Nazanin Silver, writes for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that about 4 in 10 women have mood symptoms during perimenopause, which may be similar to PMS. She notes that women may feel irritable, have low energy, feel tearful and moody, or have a hard time concentrating.

She also notes that there are multiple studies that point out the increasing risk of depression during menopausal transition. Women may feel like they are crying a lot, feel hopeless or worthless, numb or lose interest from their liked and normal activities. Anxiety too is one of the symptoms.

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She suggests during this phase, it is important to "see your ob-gyn regularly and discuss how you are feeling". Finding help can help you enter this phase with ease.

Heart diseases are one of the most common issues people face in the world. Despite being the leading cause of death globally, according to the world health organization, many people miss critical signs of it. The best way to ensure a person gets treatment, is that the disease must be diagnosed in its early stages. A new study suggests diagnosing the risk of heart disease early is also possible, with the help of eye scans.

Researchers at McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) have made an incredible discovery. They found that the tiny blood vessels in your eyes could be a powerful way to guess how likely you are to develop heart disease and how fast your body is truly aging on the inside. This is a big deal because right now, checking for these risks involves many complicated tests.

The study, which was published in the journal Science Advances, suggests that soon, doctors might be able to use a simple scan of your retina, which is the back of your eye, as a quick and non-invasive tool. This scan could show them the overall health of your blood circulation and reveal your body’s real biological age. This new method could open up amazing possibilities for catching serious health issues much earlier.

Can You Diagnose Heart Diseases From Eye Scan?

The study was massive, involving over 74,000 people from large international research groups. The scientists analyzed their retinal images, genetic makeup, and blood data.

Their key discovery was striking, people whose blood vessels in the retina were simpler and looked less branched (not as tree-like) were found to be at a higher risk for heart problems. These same people also showed clear signs of faster biological aging, meaning they had more inflammation in their bodies and a potentially shorter life expectancy.

Dr. Marie Pigeyre, one of the main researchers on the study, explains that the eye is unique. It gives doctors a special, clear, and easy way to look at your entire circulatory system—all the veins and arteries that carry blood throughout your body.

Mirroring the Body

Think of the eye's small blood vessels like a mirror. Changes happening in these vessels reflect the same changes happening in the small blood vessels everywhere else in your body. If the vessels in your eye look unhealthy, chances are, the vessels around your heart and brain are also struggling.

Molecular Clues

The team didn't just look at pictures. By combining the retinal scans with genetic information and blood test results, they were able to uncover specific "molecular pathways." These are basically the biological rules or processes that explain exactly how aging causes problems in your blood vessel system.

Can You Cure Genetic Heart Diseases?

The researchers went beyond just finding a link; they used the blood and genetic data to hunt for the root causes of these eye vessel changes. This led them to pinpoint specific proteins that appear to be the main drivers of both aging and disease.

They identified two major proteins: MMP12 and IgG–Fc receptor IIb. Both of these are strongly linked to inflammation and the deterioration of blood vessels as we age.

Dr. Pigeyre is excited because these specific proteins could become targets for new drugs. Medicines designed to control or slow down these proteins could help reduce the impact of vascular aging, lower the risk of heart disease, and ultimately help people live longer and healthier lives.

Right now, to check for serious age-related diseases like heart disease, stroke, and memory problems (dementia), doctors have to perform many different tests. The big hope is that a quick, simple retinal scan could one day become an easy-to-access tool to immediately check a person's risk for heart problems and determine their biological age.

It is not uncommon for women’s health concerns to be overlooked even by professionals. Often chalking up their health issues as, ‘common women ailments’, many healthcare professionals, miss the core reason for women’s symptoms. In a recent video, Dr Karan Rajan, an NHS Surgeon, shared a video, explaining how often, even signs of chronic illnesses can get overlooked as just ‘anxiety’.

So, is there no way a person can ensure they have the right diagnosis? In the video Dr Karan listed a few ways one can ensure they have the right diagnosis, from asking the right questions and how to proficiently communicate your symptoms to the doctor.

What Questions Should You Ask Your Doctor?

If your doctor told you that your health problems are "just anxiety," remember that you have the right to push for a more thorough checkup. One should ask the right questions as it is their health on the line. Being ready shows you're serious and ensures your doctor looks into your condition properly.

Dr. Karan explains that when talking to your doctor, you should ask questions that make them explain why they settled on an anxiety diagnosis. This shifts the focus back to the doctor, requiring them to justify their medical opinion. Here are the key questions you should use.

"What tests have been done to rule out other causes of my symptoms?"

This question is powerful because it makes the doctor list exactly what they have investigated. It clarifies the boundaries of the investigation. If the doctor hasn't run many tests, you know there's more ground to cover.

"Can you explain why you think this is anxiety and not a physical medical condition?"

Don't accept "your blood work is fine" as the only answer. That's often not enough. Many serious health conditions don't show up on a routine blood test. You want a detailed explanation of their thinking, not just a quick dismissal.

"Have we ruled out other conditions that can look exactly like anxiety?"

It's surprising how many physical illnesses have symptoms that are identical to anxiety. Dr Karan explains how thyroid problems like hypothyroidism, issues with your nervous system like dysautonomia, or even an immune disorder like mast cell activation syndrome, can all cause symptoms like a racing heart, dizziness, or panic. You want to be sure these possibilities have been considered.

Is It Anxiety Or A Health Condition?

If your doctor only suggests things like talk therapy and certain medications (like SSRIs), be prepared to ask for more. You need to know if they're looking at the big picture.

Dr Karan suggests that you should ask them: "What treatment plan would you suggest that goes beyond just treating the anxiety itself?"

If their only answer is medication and counseling, it's fair to ask what other medical routes or specialists can be explored to find the root cause of your symptoms.

How Should You Describe Your Symptoms?

When describing your symptoms, you need to be precise and give the doctor hard data. This makes it much harder for them to brush off your concerns as simple stress. Dr Karan gives an example, instead of just saying, "I get dizzy a lot," get into the details:

"I get dizzy when I stand up, especially in the morning. It's worse after eating or after I’ve been sitting for a long period of time."

This kind of specific detail is very important. Symptoms that happen when you stand up and improve when you lie down could point to a physical problem like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), not just everyday anxiety.

The clearer and more factual you are, the less likely they are to dismiss your condition as just "generalized stress." Dr. Rajan emphasizes that "data talks." Start keeping a symptom diary right away! It's an essential tool for tracking your condition every day. In your log, record:

The exact time symptoms happened.

What you ate or drank beforehand.

What made the symptoms better or worse.

Look for patterns. Does the dizziness only happen after you stand up? Do your symptoms worsen after a certain meal, or around your sleep schedule, or with hormonal changes? Bringing this detailed log, to your appointment makes it much, much more difficult for any doctor to doubt or dismiss your concerns.