President Joe Biden announced he will not run for reelection, with memory lapses cited as a significant factor in his decision.
Observations of Biden’s cognitive abilities have raised concerns, particularly following a debate with Trump and subsequent public appearances.
Memory lapses differ from dementia; while lapses are common and often due to stress or fatigue, dementia represents a severe cognitive decline affecting daily life.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) serves as an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia, with 10-15% of individuals with MCI developing dementia annually.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases, characterized by neuron death and cognitive decline.
Vascular dementia, caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, and frontotemporal dementia, affecting personality and language, are also significant types of dementia.
Lifestyle changes, including regular physical activity, a healthy diet, mental stimulation, and social connections, can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia.