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The Conversation

Leo Gugerty, Professor Emeritus in Psychology, Clemson University

Biden and Trump may forget names or personal details, but here is what really matters in assessing whether they’re cognitively up for the job

Joe Biden Donald Trump Memory

This image of Trump and Biden was taken during the 2020 presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn. Pavlo Conchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Some Americans are questioning whether elderly people like Joe Biden and Donald Trump are cognitively competent to be president amid reports of the candidates mixing up names while speaking and having trouble recalling details of past personal events.

I believe these reports are clearly concerning. However, it’s problematic to evaluate the candidates’ cognition based only on the critiques that have gained traction in the popular press.

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