Some have commented on the inappropriate nature of Trump’s dancing during a rally while so many people are dying from COVID-19. While I agree, that is not what startled me, it was the similarities between his dancing and that of dementia/ alzheimer’s patients.
I did a rotation in a memory care facility during nursing school and one of the patient’s favorite activities was dancing. I even joined in on occasion, it was joyous, but none of these patients were the President of the United States. I recall other similarities, denial, lack of verbal filters, lying, paranoia, forgetting words, incoherent speech patterns, and sudden fits of anger. Having a President in the initial phase of alzheimer’s happened with Ronald Reagan but there was a difference. He stayed out of public view for the most part. His symptoms were not on display. We never saw the stumbling gait, the uncontrollable body movements or the strange facial contortions. He had hired capable people and they were allowed to do their jobs. He never lost his ability to read a script while speaking clearly and maintaining eye contact. He looked and spoke normally.
Please any mental health professions or ordinary people with relevant experience, your input will be vastly appreciated. Do I need a 5150?