Trump's peculiar gait triggers alarm for psychiatrist: 'Should undergo expert assessment'

More questions are being raised about Donald Trump's mental decline with a forensic psychiatrist noting signs of physical deterioration that should require testing for possible Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD).

According to Dr. Elizabeth Zoffman, a forensic psychiatrist and an Associate Clinical Professor of Forensic and General Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, there should be growing concerns about the former president's mental state that go beyond his growing problems stringing sentences together.

Other psychiatrists have recently brought up concerns about his speech, highlighting "word substitution and nonsense words – known as paraphasia," a report in Salon stated.

But, in an interview with Salon's Chauncey Devega, Zoffman noted her "observations are garnered from viewing the phenomenon of Mr. Trump for the past decade. Also, observations from viewing old videotape interviews and coverage of Mr. Trump as a younger man form part of my impression that Mr. Trump might benefit from a thorough evaluation by a neuropsychiatrist with expertise in neurodegenerative disorders."

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Among her concerns are, "A decline in cognitive focus on speech subjects with incomplete sentences and an inability to focus on a topic long enough to complete a sentence when not reading from a teleprompter," as well as, "Disinhibition and an inability to control verbal outbursts."

Zoffman added she has noted an oddity in the former president's "movement and gait," explaining, "His walk appears wide-based and he has developed a swing of his right leg. He appears glued to the floor when he 'dances' for his audience. If caught on camera standing still, he appears unnaturally immobile."

Combined with other issues, she stated, "My clinical experience and these collected observations are congruent with the diagnostic criteria for Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD). People presenting with such a cluster of observations should undergo expert assessment. This diagnosis is often largely based on external observations and collateral reporting from others close to the person."

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Noting that Trump doesn't appear to be dangerous, she elaborated, "In Mr. Trump’s case, the overall picture is consistent with Behavioral Variable Fronto-Temporal Dementia (with the caveats mentioned about needing a thorough evaluation including an MRI brain scan.) The associated disinhibition exposes unfortunate aspects of his personality and worldview where he repeatedly dehumanizes anyone he sees as 'the other.'"

Pressed over whether what the former president appears to be exhibiting is reversible, she replied, "FTD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive deterioration and early death. Once again, I caution that my observations combined with those of other experts should lead to a thorough assessment by a neuropsychiatrist expert in the diagnosis and management of neurodegenerative disorders."

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