In a country where the vitality of the president tends to serve as a proxy-in for credibility as a leader, President Donald J. Trump — now in his second term and the oldest president to hold office in U.S. history — is again making cognitive health the focal point of the nation's dialogue. Speaking on board Air Force One headed to West Palm Beach, the 78-year-old commander-in-chief made a public proclamation that he had "got every answer right" on a cognitive test administered during his annual check-up at Walter Reed Medical Center. "Good heart. Good soul. I felt I was in very good shape," said Trump, continuing that he went out of his way to take the test as a way of distinguishing himself from political rivals.

But what is this mental test actually — and what does it really tell us about a sitting president's mental acuity, particularly in the tough and high-wire job of Commander-in-Chief?

The president addressed openly to journalists on board during the trip to his home in West Palm Beach, Florida, assertively declaring, "I got every answer right." This comment has once again sparked public curiosity regarding the nature and importance of cognitive testing, particularly among aging political figures.

"I’m in very good shape — good heart, good soul, very good soul," President Trump told the White House press pool, emphasizing his physical and mental wellness. Not only did he point out the good results of his physical, but he also used the opportunity to differentiate himself from his political peers by mentioning that he took a cognitive test voluntarily — something he says his predecessors, former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, had declined to do.

This is not the first time President Trump has boasted about his cognitive abilities. In his last term, he made similar claims, even reciting memorable parts of the test like the now-famous phrase- "Man, Woman, Person, Camera, TV."

Former US President Donald Trump has been declared "fully fit" to serve as Commander-in-Chief, according to his latest physical examination report released by the White House on Sunday. The announcement comes at a time when the health of political leaders is under increased public scrutiny, especially in the United States.

The report holds particular significance as Trump remains the oldest individual ever elected to the presidency. One of the key highlights of the medical update is the noticeable reduction in his weight. Trump now weighs 224 pounds, down from 244 pounds during his previous physical in 2020. This 20-pound weight loss has also improved his Body Mass Index (BMI), lowering it from 30.5- which placed him in the "obese" category- to 28.0, categorizing him as "overweight."

According to his physician, this progress can be attributed to a more active and health-conscious lifestyle. The updated health report not only reflects improvements in Trump’s physical condition but also reinforces the broader national conversation around wellness and fitness in American political leadership.

What Is the Cognitive Test Trump Took?

The test in question is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a standardized screening tool developed in 1996 by neurologist Dr. Ziad Nasreddine. It’s widely used to detect mild cognitive impairment and early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Despite its simplicity for cognitively healthy individuals, the test is a powerful tool in neurological diagnostics.

MoCA tests several areas of brain function such as memory, attention, language, visuospatial abilities, and executive functions. It takes about 10 minutes and is commonly utilized by neurologists and primary care physicians to screen for cognitive impairments in persons aged 65 years and older.

President Trump claimed that he got every question correct — and for a cognitively healthy person, that is what is expected. But what is the MoCA, and are its last questions as hard as Trump claims?

1. Visuospatial and Executive Function Tasks

The test starts with a series of drawing exercises that involve:

• Drawing a clock indicating a particular time, e.g., 10 past 11.
• Copying a three-dimensional cube.

These exercises assess spatial knowledge, attention, and planning abilities — tasks that can decline with age or neurological deterioration.

2. Identification and Naming

These are illustrated animals — often a lion, camel, and rhinoceros — and participants are requested to identify them. This task appears straightforward but can be sensitive to problems with recall of language or semantic memory.

3. Delayed Recall and Memory

One of the more difficult sections of the test is when subjects are required to recall a series of five unrelated words. Later in the test, they are required to recall these same words without cues. This delayed recall section often uncovers early memory lapses.

4. Attention and Language Repetition

In the following section, items involve the repetition of strings of numbers forward and backward and simple subtraction items (e.g., subtract 7 from 100 consecutively). This assesses working memory and attention.

5. Verbal Fluency and Abstraction

Here, the subjects are required to say as many words as possible beginning with the letter "F" within 60 seconds. Subsequently, they have to describe similarities of two things — for example, how a train and a bicycle are similar (both are means of transport).

6. Orientation

The last section of the test tests an individual's sense of time and place — requesting that the subject give the present date, day of the week, month, year, and place.

How Difficult Is It, Really?

When asked about the difficulty of the test, Trump said, "I'll bet you couldn't even answer the last five questions. They get very hard." While certain sections, such as delayed recall and abstraction, may be challenging for people with early indicators of cognitive impairment, experts explain that the test is not intended to be excessively difficult for non-impaired individuals.

"The MoCA is not a test of intelligence," explains Dr. Sarah Williams, a Johns Hopkins Medicine neurologist. "It's intended to screen for very subtle indicators of cognitive decline. If you are cognitively normal, it will be very easy."

Cognitive Testing and Presidential Transparency

Trump's insistence on taking cognitive testing is less about boasting rights — it is also a sign of larger public anxieties surrounding aging leaders and their cognitive abilities. With both leading presidential candidates now over their late 70s and early 80s, mental sharpness issues have become an overarching theme in American politics.

Trump’s repeated willingness to undergo and publicize the results of cognitive testing could be interpreted as a strategic move to address those concerns head-on. “The American people want a mentally sharp president,” he said. “I think I’ve proven that.”

Autism diagnoses for children in the United States continue to rise, with the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicating that one out of every 31 eight-year-olds have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The findings, published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, are a low-key but significant improvement over previous years and come at a time when the disease is facing heightened political scrutiny, including from the administration of President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

While the CDC attributes this steady rise to improved screening, increased awareness, and broader access to diagnostic care, Kennedy has introduced fresh unsubstantiated claims of a connection between autism and exposures to the environment and vaccines—despite decades of contradiction from empirical evidence suggesting no such association. His comments have stoked controversy surrounding the causes of autism even as experts emphasize that the evidence must be reflected in more comprehensive policies and support systems, not fear or misinformation.

Is Autism Really on the Rise Or Early Detection?

In its recent report both pointing to gains in early detection and persistent issues with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that autism rates in the United States have reached an all-time high. Through 2022, approximately 1 in 31 U.S. 8-year-olds had an autism diagnosis—an increase from 1 in 36 two years before. Though some have called this a "public health epidemic," health care providers and scientists credit the trend to a more longer-term shift in diagnostic patterns, increased awareness, and increasing access to services, especially within historically disenfranchised populations.

The CDC's latest biennial surveillance report, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, includes a comprehensive picture of autism prevalence across the country. Using data collected from several Texas, Georgia, and California communities, the findings show significant regional variation. For example, in one San Diego metropolitan community, 1 in 19 children had been diagnosed with autism—the highest rate in the study.

Of note, these rises are not always a reflection of a rise in the prevalence of children with autism, but rather an increase in the ability to identify it, particularly at earlier stages in life. According to the CDC, enhanced screening tools, parent and pediatrician education campaigns, and community-based interventions have all contributed to this diagnostic shift.

The report comes on the heels of autism having received new political attention. President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. placed autism at the center of their healthcare agenda. Kennedy, who has long drawn criticism for linking autism with vaccines—a myth that has been often debunked by the scientific world—called the condition an "epidemic running rampant."

Contrary to Kennedy's assertions, the CDC and senior health leaders maintain that increases in autism diagnosis are primarily due to positive trends in detection and awareness, rather than an explosion of cases with environmental or medical causes.

Kennedy's call for new investigations into vaccines and autism has raised alarm among advocacy groups and scientists. The decades-long, peer-reviewed push against the myth that vaccines cause autism has demolished the trope. According to the CDC, vaccines remain safe and essential to public health.

This rhetoric does more harm than good," stated Christopher Banks, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America. "Prevalence data should drive equity and access—not fear, misinformation, or political rhetoric.".

Perhaps most notably, the CDC report highlights the growing trend of autism diagnoses in children of color. Traditionally disproportionately diagnosed in white, affluent communities, ASD increasingly is being diagnosed in Black, Hispanic, and Asian children. The trend, first reported in the 2020 CDC report, continues, a sign of growing outreach and access to care in historically underserved communities.

In fact, autism now happens less frequently in upscale neighborhoods than in socially disadvantaged communities—a reversal of the decades-ago trend. The CDC emphasized that the trend reversal is likely a result of concerted efforts to reduce gaps in early screening and diagnostic services, and not because there is any increased biological risk in some communities.

Autism remains significantly more common in boys than girls. In 2022, autism was diagnosed in boys at a rate 3.4 times higher than girls. While the disparity has lessened in recent years, scientists caution that the disparity is not wholly due to improved diagnostic practices in girls. The nuance and lower disruptive impact of ASD presentation in women—frequently more subtle and less disruptive—can still lead to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis.

Local variation in autism prevalence also tends to correlate with the existence of early intervention services. California, for example, has an excellent program training pediatricians to screen for early signs of autism and providing state-funded regional centers for kids with developmental disorders. These models that are based within communities provide roadmaps for the enhancement of autism identification and treatment systems across the country.

Likewise, Puerto Rico's recent investment in public autism awareness campaigns had a profound influence on diagnostic rates. Children born after the island-wide early detection initiative was initiated had one of the highest rates of diagnosis among their age group, a reflection of the effectiveness of preventive public health initiatives.

While the slight uptick in autism rates may sound alarming, health professionals urge the public to interpret the numbers with caution. “This is not an epidemic,” said one CDC epidemiologist familiar with the report. “What we’re seeing is the fruit of years of advocacy, education, and systemic change.”

Experts and autism advocacy leaders reinforce that message. "This entire generation of children is not damaged," said the Autism Society's Banks. "They are being seen, heard and served more than ever before."

Whooping cough cases are skyrocketing at a record rate across US, from Texas to Michigan, health departments are seeing a rise not seen in over a decade and it's not just the numbers that have experts alarmed. The most vulnerable are babies under the age of one, and in some tragic cases, the disease has been fatal.

State and local health departments across the United States are reporting an alarming surge in whooping cough, or pertussis, cases, a dramatic uptick in the respiratory disease that many had believed was in check. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there has been a staggering 1,500% increase in reported cases nationwide since 2021, fueling concerns of another widespread outbreak on top of measles.

The upward trajectory in the number of cases isn't just numeric, it's deadly. In Louisiana, two infant deaths have already been confirmed in 2025, the state's first pertussis deaths since 2018. In Texas, the Laredo Public Health Department has already tallied more cases this year than in all of 2024. North Carolina and Michigan are also in triple-digit outbreaks, with 166 and 520 cases, respectively.

In 2023, the U.S. recorded 7,063 cases of pertussis. That spiked to 35,435 in 2024, including 10 deaths—primarily infants under the age of one, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics. Stated Dr. Andrea Garcia, American Medical Association Vice President of Science, Medicine, and Public Health, "It's the highest number in more than a decade."

Historically, pre-pandemic years saw around 15,000–19,000 cases annually. The current spike is not just a statistical uptick, but a red flag for public health.

Why Is Whooping Cough So Dangerous?

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It infects the upper respiratory system by binding to cilia—microscopic hair-like appendages that function to clear airways—and producing toxins that kill these structures and lead to inflammation.

Whooping Cough Symptoms

The disease is especially dangerous for infants under one year of age, and approximately one out of three is hospitalized due to severe complications such as pneumonia, seizures, or apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing).

Early symptoms are misleading: runny nose, low-grade fever, and a mild cough—so it's hard to rule out ordinary colds, COVID-19, or RSV. But within one to two weeks, the characteristic "whooping" cough appears, with violent coughing fits that sometimes conclude with a high-pitched "whoop" sound when breathing in.

The illness can last anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks, and while older children and adults may experience milder symptoms, they can still spread the infection to vulnerable populations.

How Long Is Whooping Cough Contagious?

One of the biggest questions for families and caregivers: How long is a pertussis victim contagious?

The patient can infect others as soon as symptoms of a cold appear and is contagious for up to 3 weeks after the onset of coughing.

If antibiotics such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin are given at an early phase, the patient typically is no longer contagious after 5 complete days of antibiotic therapy.

This prolonged period of contagion underscores the need for early detection and treatment—not just for the recovery of the patient but to break the chain of transmission.

What's Causing the Surge in Whooping Cough Cases?

One of the underlying reasons for the recent spike in cases is low vaccination rates, which public health officials say could jeopardize decades of progress.

Dr. Garcia and others blame the resurgence on populations with low or waning immunity, particularly where vaccine coverage has dropped. This not only includes children but also adults who are due for booster shots, as vaccine immunity wanes over time.

How to Stay Protected?

The most effective way to prevent whooping cough is through timely and complete vaccination. For infants and young children, the DTaP vaccine—protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis—is administered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with booster doses given between 15 to 18 months and again at 4 to 6 years. As children grow into adolescence, a Tdap booster is recommended at ages 11 to 12.

Adults who have never received the Tdap should get a single dose, especially if they are in contact with infants. Pregnant women are advised to receive a Tdap booster during the third trimester of each pregnancy to pass on protective antibodies to their newborns, offering vital early immunity. Additionally, healthcare workers and international travelers—particularly those in close contact with infants or vulnerable individuals—should ensure their pertussis vaccinations are up to date to help curb the spread of this highly contagious illness.

In those who have been exposed to the infection, post-exposure prophylaxis with antibiotics will prevent the disease from developing. The household contact or close contact must be called by the local health provider for confirmation of pertussis.

The sharp increase in whooping cough infections is more than just a number, it's a public health warning sign. The disease, as preventable as it is, is killing infants and testing the limits of community immunity across the country. With its long infectious period, easily mistaken symptoms, and widening transmission rates, pertussis is a genuine threat, especially for infants.

Health officials in Hood River County of Oregon are now investigating the three suspected cases of a rare and a fatal brain disorder. It is called the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). What is even more concerning is that two residents of the small county have already been reported dead and a third case is currently under review. While CJD is extremely rare, with a cluster of cases in the community of just 24,000 which prompt its serious concern, a deeper look at this mysterious disease could help people understand more about it.

What Is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)?

Before we delve into how it happens or what causes, let us first understand what is it. CJD is degenerative brain disorder that is caused by abnormal or infectious proteins, also known as prions. Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions are misfolded protein which can induce normal protein in the bodies to misfold itself too. It can also lead to severe and irreversible brain damage. These proteins accumulate and cause the brain to develop sponge-like holes, which disrupt normal function and lead to a rapid mental and physical decline.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most patients diet within a year of symptom onset and there is currently no cure of that same.

Is The Disease Common?

We have already established the fact that it is a rare disease. In fact, as per the National Institutes of Health (NIH) only 350 cases of CJD is diagnosed in the US each year. This translates into 1 to 2 cases per million people, annually. Most cases—about 85%—are considered sporadic, meaning they arise without any known cause or risk factors.

Other types include:

Familial CJD (about 10–15% of cases), caused by inherited mutations in the prion protein gene.

Acquired CJD, which is extremely rare, can result from exposure to infected brain or nervous system tissue, often during certain medical procedures or, in even rarer cases, through the consumption of infected cattle (known as variant CJD).

Health officials in Hood River have stated that the current cases do not appear to be linked to cattle consumption, and it’s unclear whether the individuals were related or had any shared genetic factors.

What Are The Common Symptoms Of CJD?

CJD progresses rapidly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC, early symptoms can include:

• Rapid memory loss and confusion
• Changes in behavior and personality
• Visual disturbances
• Poor coordination and balance
• Muscle stiffness or jerking
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing

As the disease advances, patients often lose the ability to move or speak and may enter a coma. The rapid progression makes early diagnosis difficult and complicates treatment, especially in communities with limited access to specialized neurological care.

How Can It Be Diagnosed?

In the Hood River cases, one of the diagnoses was done through an autopsy. This is also one of the most definitive way to identify CJD by analyzing the brain tissue under a microscope. Testing it for prion proteins then reveals the result. Two other cases are considered likely, however, the results are pending.

Because CJD is so difficult to confirm during life, doctors often rely on clinical symptoms, advanced imaging like MRI, and spinal fluid tests to support a diagnosis. But confirmation usually requires a postmortem examination.

The National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center at Case Western Reserve University plays a key role in diagnosing and studying cases in the U.S. Dr. Brian Appleby, the center’s director, notes that genetic testing can also help determine whether a case is inherited.