In Trump’s Speeches, Signs of Cognitive Impairment

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Credit…Doug Mills/The New York Times

To the Editor:

Re “Trump Reignites Question of Age With Ramblings” (front page, Oct. 7):

As a licensed psychologist, I am writing to express deep concern about the repeated instances of unusual speech patterns, childish insults and lies demonstrated by Donald Trump. While some have always brushed these speech behaviors off, I believe they warrant a more serious examination for potential signs of cognitive impairment, particularly since, as you pointed out, they are worsening.

Parapraxis, or speech errors, is common in typical adult communication. We’ve all experienced a “slip of the tongue.” However, the frequency, consistency and nature of Mr. Trump’s errors are outside the norm.

His patterns of derailment (switching from one topic or thought to another without a logical connection), circumlocutions (struggling to find the right word and using descriptions instead) and phonemic errors (sounding out words) suggest more than just a careless speaking style. His use of words like moron and other youth-like insults also indicates a possible impairment.

Research has long established that communication changes can be an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. It is essential for a physician to provide a detailed assessment of Mr. Trump’s cognitive health beyond just stating that his physical health is excellent.

We deserve transparency about the fitness of those seeking the highest office. I urge the full release of his medical records, including cognitive and neurological evaluations, and for Congress to establish more stringent fitness for duty assessments for presidential candidates.

Michael J. Salamon
Hewlett, N.Y.

To the Editor:

It has been a long time coming to finally see The New York Times focus on the ramblings and incoherence of Donald Trump. Mr. Trump’s calling Kamala Harris “mentally impaired” is just one more example of a long-running propensity he has to attribute his own vast shortcomings to his enemies.

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