Tragically, eighty-two-year-old former president Joe Biden was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

If Joe Biden never dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, and remained in the running and won, it seems he very quickly would’ve been replaced by the vice president anyway.

But the former presidents' health has been a cause for contention over the last couple of years.

His 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump left many viewers astonished. Was his lack of consistently coherent debating due to the fact that he is simply an old man, or due to factors more dire?

Whether or not his performance was simply due to declining cognitive agility that’s natural for the aging individual, or was the result of darker circumstances...this is a question that we shouldn’t have to debate at all.

There are millions of citizens in America, a great percentage of them eligible to run for office, whether due to age or background experience, making them a suitable choice. Yet, thrust upon America for years was the choice between one elderly man or another, neither of whom is likely to see the fruits of their presidencies even in the next twenty years.

To be fair, Joe Biden, to the relief of many, did step down shortly after the debate. But not everyone shared in this relief. Not because of hope he would remain in the race, but because these critics felt he waited too long.

Compared to the typical years-long, Kamala Harris had a mere 107 days to run a presidential campaign. 107 days to introduce herself as a front-runner, separate from under Joe Biden’s wing as his vice president.

But, whether or not this choice would have had an impact, let us not forget our current president's state.

Image Credit: Gayatri Malhotra from Unsplash

Donald Trump is seventy-eight years old, and when his presidency ends in 2028, he will be Biden's age. Thus, whatever the consequences of his actions in the presidency happen to be, he will not likely be around to see the long-term remnants.

It's also not as if Trump's health is at its prime.

In a detailed report by The Economic Times, readers got a full insight into the president's condition, and the medications he is currently taking.

Some key details from the report show that Trump is taking medicines named Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe to manage cholesterol. In 2024, he underwent a colonoscopy which found diverticulosis and a benign polyp. The president also underwent recent cataract surgery for each eye, though the exact dates were not reported for this procedure.

Also, just like Biden, discussions have been held by concerned onlookers over Trump's potential dementia. But, this claim has not been affirmed by spokespeople for either man.

Age Caps

When examining the circumstances over the last few years, all I can think is: How is this allowed?

By "this", I mean: How do senior citizens who, unlike the millions of younger Americans, will not have to see the fruits of their labor have the right to be in the most esteemed position this country has? Making decisions that will impact American citizens, yes, but also interacting with leaders of other countries.

FBI agents can no longer be so after the age of fifty-seven. For a majority of general or flag military officers, the mandatory retirement age is sixty-four. Many states even require their judges to retire between ages seventy to seventy-two!

Yet none of these rules apply to the presidency, which is arguably more influential than the aforementioned careers. It is quite interesting.

Especially when poll after poll has shown that a wide array of Americans are proponents for age caps on the presidency.

For example: In a poll by Pew Research Center, the results showed that 79% of voters would like to see age caps implemented for federal elected officials in Washington, D.C. 77% of participants agreed with barring elected officials from serving past a certain age in a poll by New York Post.

Other reputable outlets have noted similar findings.

Image Credit: Maria Thalassinou from Unsplash

The argument can be made that the aged president has their children and grandchildren to think of, sure. But even with the purest intentions, science shows clearly that cognitive ability slows with age.

Based on a multitude of studies, The National Library of Medicine reports:

"Generally, it takes longer for older people to process information and give a response. These age-related changes have an influence on the efficiency of other cognitive operations, such as working memory, attention, and speech processing, and have tremendous implications for behavior and interactions with others...older adults have more trouble discriminating between relevant and irrelevant stimuli and locating relevant information in the presence of distracting background information".

This report is not about elder folks afflicted with dementia or another limiting disease. This is regarding the state of the average older individual.

Are there those who, despite their advanced ages, still have a sharp mind? Delivering quips and thought out advice for hours at a time? Who still manage to live and take care of themselves, perhaps driving independently to bingo nights and the grocery stores?

Of course! I have been well acquainted with several of these folks. They deserve to thrive and live their best lives as long as they are able.

Despite this, the fact is that cognitive ability is simply not as sharp at age eighty as it is at age forty five.

As the president, as a leader of an entire country, you need to be able to think fast. To make quick decisions under pressure. You have to know the right thing to say and when to say it.

You are in charge of hundreds of employees, hand-selecting those who serve you in your cabinet. There are potential life-or-death situations, and you have to face that burden head-on with countless folks depending on you to do the job right.

Because if something is done wrong, this can potentially have drastic effects on millions for decades to come.

Yes, there are elderly folks who display remarkably sound mind, and this is always a blessing!

Still, the science makes clear the way these abilities change during the aging process.

Senior citizens deserve the opportunity to work if they so choose and are able, of course.

But, I cannot state this inclusion with confidence regarding the presidency.

Of course, it is a non-zero chance that a forty or fifty-year-old man elected for office could die or fall ill during his reign. Even one whose actions were quite harmful to the average citizen. This has happened.

But, statistically, the likelihood of that event occurring to that forty- or fifty-year-old man is much lower compared to the eighty year old.

Yet as we speak, who is calling the shots?

It's not the middle-aged man.