Topline
Results of President Joe Biden’s annual physical Wednesday showed “no new concerns” and found that “he continues to be fit for duty” and able to execute his responsibilities “without any exceptions or accommodations.”
President Joe Biden meets with law enforcement officials in the State Dining Room of the White House ... [+]
Key Facts
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the physician to the president, wrote in a memo made public Wednesday afternoon that Biden is “a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male, who remains fit” to serve as president.
The most notable change in the president’s health from the last physical made public in February 2023 was the “incorporation of a Positive Airwarit Pressure (PAP)” machine into Biden’s sleeping routine to address his symptoms of sleep apnea, the memo said.
The memo said Biden underwent “an extremely detailed neurologic exam” that was reassuring and found nothing consistent with “any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder,” like stroke or Parkinson’s, though Biden continues to have peripheral neuropathy—nerve damage that can cause weakness, numbness or pain—in his feet.
Biden also had a basal cell carcinoma skin lesion removed in March, and a root canal procedure in June.
Prior to the report being released Wednesday afternoon, Biden joked with reporters, saying his doctors “think I look too young.”
Key Background
Biden’s annual physical was fairly similar to his last one, which also found him to be “fit for duty” and capable of his responsibilities. But Biden’s positive annual physical results come as many Americans have expressed concern about his ability to serve as president due to his age, with 67% of respondents in a recent Quinnipiac University poll saying he is “too old to effectively serve another term.” Only 57% of respondents felt that way about former President Donald Trump, 77.
Tangent
Earlier this week in an appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” Biden pushed back on people concerned about his age. He said Trump was “about as old as I am,” and that it’s not about how old the person is, “it’s about how old your ideas are.” He said Trump is “a guy who wants to take us back … on a whole range of issues.”
