We know now from various sources that when Ronald Reagan began his second term at the age of 73, he was beginning to show signs of early Alzheimer's. How this affected his ability to perform the duties of president and commander-in-chief we will never know as his wife and closest aides shielded him from public exposure. (An historical footnote...When Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke during his second term, his wife Edith with the collaboration of his aides effectively became acting president.)
I'm neither a medical doctor nor a psychiatrist. I'm not trying to diagnose John McCain from a distance. I'm only raising the question because, unlike your father or grandfather, or uncle, McCain is asking us to entrust the running of the United States to him. We need to be equally concerned about the mental health of any candidate for the presidency as well as their physical health. That being said, the following is a list of some early signs and symptoms of diminishing mental ability as we age...
From www.ehow.com:
Step1
Consider the family history. Is there a background of senile dementia or Alzheimer's disease? There is often a genetic predisposition toward this condition in members of the same family.
Step2
Look for signs of memory loss and language difficulties. Is the person losing words, or forgetting the names of common objects? Has he or she forgotten how to do simple mathematics?
Step3
Watch out for confusion and loss of attention span. Is the person unable to focus on a normal conversation? Does he or she get mixed up when trying to perform basic tasks?
Step4
Rule out undiagnosed hearing or vision loss. These may hinder a person's ability to communicate effectively, and can make someone seem more confused than he or she really is.
Step5
Monitor inappropriate behavior and impaired judgment. If the person begins to act inappropriately or significantly out of character in social situations, he or she may be showing signs of senile dementia.
Step6
Look out for mood changes, irritability or emotional agitation. Often, people in the early stages of senile dementia are aware that something is happening to them, and this can be both frightening and depressing.
Step7
Watch for physical coordination problems and physical confusion. People with senile dementia often forget how to do simple learned tasks that have been part of their daily life for many years.
Step8
Watch the person walk. Changes in gait are often symptomatic of senile dementia, although they can also be connected with other neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
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