Just last week, reports unexpectedly disclosed that former President Donald Trump had managed to stay in remarkable physical and cognitive health all throughout his second term. The renowned Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which is a globally accepted screening tool widely used to spot early signs of dementia, was used. It has been shared that the president managed to fully ace the examination, reflecting his superb cognitive health. Drawing attention to his accomplishments on the golf course, the health report amplifies a sterling example of his perpetual active lifestyle.
The extensive physical examination foremost noted Trump’s vital statistics, having him clock in at 6’3′ with a healthy 224 lbs weight. To further emphasize Trump’s health, the doctors cited his continuous victories on the golf course as proof of his active lifestyle. It should be of interest to notice how even in such trying times his health did not waiver, whereas some might trend down under the looming pressure.
The cognitive health part of his evaluation saw Trump undertake the acclaimed MoCA test once more. As a routine part of the overall health evaluation, the medical staff prompted Trump to complete an array of simple tasks. Some of these perplexingly simple tasks included drawing a timepiece, extending to the recalling and repetition of a certain word sequence.
From a total of 30 marks, a score below 25 is widely recognized as an indication of cognitive impairment, a blemish on one’s cognitive ability. However, according to memos from his physician, Trump scored flawlessly, reaching the best score of 30 out of 30. Given the rising health concerns of the modern world, it is an inspiration to see the former president in such an impressive state.
During a public event, Trump shared a glimpse into his experience about the medical exam. ‘In my physical exam, I also undertook a cognitive exam, where I managed to score the highest mark’, said Trump. A claim that truly sets him apart from many of his contemporaries in Congress, perhaps some should follow suit to ensure our representatives have the mental faculties to function appropriately.
Indeed, one of the physicians even lauded Trump’s remarkable performance, stating with disbelief that he had never witnessed anyone garner such a high score. Trump also noted that, contrary to him, neither Biden nor Obama had taken any such cognitive screening exams. He went to further accentuate his accomplishments, determining that he has actively undergone such tests three times.
However, one might also note that these exams are not designed to pose challenging tasks for the average brain. Instead, they are structured around the concept of screening for any perceivable cognitive decline. The exams are not a platform for showcasing one’s intellectual prowess by achieving the ‘highest marks’, thereby creating a misunderstanding in Trump’s perception. They are set to differentiate between cognitive decline and stability, no grading system involved truly.
Trump, on numerous occasions, seems to have mistaken this cognitive exam to equate with a highly pressurized intelligence exam, lacking any clarity on its primary objective. Earlier in 2018, he again sat for this exam and recently in an interview shared his memories of it. According to him, the cognitive evaluation started off on an ‘easy’ note but then escalated to more ‘difficult’ tasks.
As the former president recalled his past experiences, it felt as if he was trying to highlight his scored victory by telling the world about those ‘difficult’ parts of the exam. He was asked to recall a set of five words – remembrance, as well as repetition after a 10 to 20-minute interval. Rose to the challenge, the former president introduced a catchphrase that will be etched in the history books – ‘Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.’
Reporting his victory, Trump reiterated how tasking the last part of the test was for most individuals who attempted it, while it seemed a straightforward endeavor for him. Upon completing the word sequence arrangement, he stated, ‘They mentioned nobody gets the words in the wished-for order, which is surprising. But for me, it appeared rather easy’. From this observation, one could see how Trump’s mindset focuses on personal achievement, not truly understanding the purpose of these evaluations.
While such cognitive exams hold importance to screen for potential medical concerns, let it be evident that this test is not about ‘winning’ or ‘getting the highest marks’. Unfortunately, the former president appears to have misconstrued the purpose of the test, narrowing its significance down to personal achievement. It makes our need for leaders with the right perspective even more urgent, so there’s an understanding of what matters and what does not in a public service role.
The sobering point here is the misunderstanding of the purpose of these cognitive tests, and the overemphasis on outperforming an imaginary opponent. It tells a tale of priorities and, bafflingly, exhibits the unbecoming pride of ‘winning’ an administration-related health evaluation. These impressions are a stark contrast to the leaders who should lead us with clear understanding and correct emphasis of matters of public concern.
Though factual to some degree that Trump’s cognitive health emerged impeccably from this screening test, his misunderstanding of the MoCA’s nature is glaring and undeniable. An uninformed observer may be tempted to applaud him for ‘acing’ the cognitive evaluation, considering this as an accomplishment. The fact that this misunderstanding comes from a former president makes one question the guidance we’re following.
Perhaps, the focus should be on fostering an atmosphere of health accountability among our leaders. Celebrating outcomes of health tests as wins instead of them simply being a reassuring sign of good health doesn’t bode well. It goes to show that our representatives should not only display good health but also a deep understanding of what these tests stand for, and simply, what matters.
The recent memory of our former president acing this MoCA test, thus, leaves us puzzled and asking for more. His misunderstanding of the nature of these tests and his focus on the unnecessary ‘achievement’ factor leaves a void for discussion. A discussion about the understanding of our leaders about basic medical procedures and tests, a reflection of their understanding of more significant matters of public concern.
The post Joe Biden Avoids MoCA Test: Is He Afraid to Prove His Cognitive Health? appeared first on Real News Now.
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