by Shine Alagba
Following the reaction from the Presidential debate, the White House has debunked rumours of Parkinson’s disease related to President Joe Biden.
During Monday’s press briefing, Press Secretary Ms. Karine Jean-Pierre said:
“Has the President been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not. Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said.
The White House released a letter from Biden’s personal physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, stating that the president had not seen a neurologist outside his three yearly physicians in his years as president.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement—the risk of getting Parkinson’s increases with age, typically in people over 60.
Symptoms include tremors, slurred speech, and memory.
Throughout the debate against Republican and former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden frequently stammered, lost his train of thought, and occasionally spoke incoherently and raspily.
Biden told reporters that he was unwise to travel the “world a couple of times” before the debate, blaming his weak performance on jet lag.
“I didn’t listen to my staff… and then I nearly fell asleep on stage,” he said.
On June 15, he joined former President Barack Obama for a fundraiser in Italy before returning to the U.S. the next day – nearly two weeks before the presidential debate on the 27th of June.
The White House also came to his defence by stating that Biden had a cold during the debate.
Biden’s age has been a problem this election, with voters in various polls stating that they think he is too old to be adequate as the U.S. president.
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