In recent months, leading psychologists have raised concerns regarding President Trump’s cognitive health, particularly pointing to signs that may indicate dementia. Observers have noted that his speeches have become increasingly disordered and lengthy, suggesting a potential condition known as logorrhoea, where a person exhibits compulsive speech that often deviates from the main topic.

This speculation has intensified following several public appearances where the 79-year-old President seemed to lose his train of thought, delve into odd digressions, and confuse basic facts. Such incidents have reignited the debate over his mental acuity and cognitive capabilities.

Critics argue that these are more than isolated incidents, describing them as a consistent pattern of ‘senior moments.’ These include losing track of conversations, wandering into unrelated tangents, and mixing up names, all of which have fueled discussions about his mental fitness.

In a more serious vein, some critics have suggested that these memory lapses, language difficulties, questionable decisions, and increasing irritability could align with the early warning signs of dementia.

A particular symptom that has caught the attention of commentators is logorrhoea. But what exactly does this entail?

Logorrhoea is a speech disorder characterized by an incessant flow of words, which can become challenging to follow. It’s not merely about excessive talking; rather, it’s about the speaker’s thoughts veering off mid-sentence, looping back, or unexpectedly shifting in direction, making the discourse hard to comprehend.

Experts say it can show up as rambling answers that never quite land, sudden topic changes, and an inability to stop talking even when the listener is clearly trying to move things along.

Speech therapists also say people with logorrhoea can dominate conversations, talking over others or failing to register cues that someone else wants to speak.

Experts speculate that Trump is showing classic signs of logorrhoea, which could be a symptom of cognitive decline 

The condition has been linked to a number of underlying issues, including dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment – and it can also appear in psychiatric conditions such as mania, a high-energy mood state associated with bipolar disorder.

Supporters insist the President is simply being himself – and point out that no doctor who has examined him has diagnosed a cognitive disorder.

Trump insists he is in ‘perfect health’, which he attributes to ‘good genetics’, and he has repeatedly boasted of ‘acing’ a cognitive test – though critics note the exam includes basic tasks such as drawing a clock, identifying animals and recalling a short list of words.

Doctors also stress that verbose speeches alone are not proof of dementia.

But they say when someone’s behaviour changes noticeably – particularly if speech becomes more chaotic, attention wanders more easily and memory appears to slip – it can raise legitimate concern.

A diagnosis of logorrhoea would typically involve assessment by a speech and language therapist or mental health professional, with clinicians considering both communication patterns and overall cognitive function.

In some cases, doctors may carry out brain imaging or other tests to investigate possible neurological causes, depending on the wider symptoms and medical history.

Treatment for logorrhoea focuses on addressing both the symptom itself and any underlying trigger.

This can include speech therapy and psychological support such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as well as medication in cases where excessive speech is driven by conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

However, there is currently no cure for dementia – which can worsen language problems as it progresses.

Trump has previously spoken about undergoing a CT scan, with his doctor Navy Capt Sean Barbabella confirming the purpose was to ‘definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues,’ and that the testing revealed no abnormalities.

The President has also suffered from chronic venous insufficiency – a common condition in older people in which faulty valves cause blood to pool in the legs.

He reportedly takes aspirin, which has blood-thinning properties, to help manage the condition.

High blood pressure, another risk factor for vascular problems, has also been linked to an increased risk of dementia in older age.

While speculation about Trump’s mental fitness continues to swirl, clinicians stress that dementia can only be diagnosed through proper medical assessment – not political commentary or viral clips.

Around 900,000 people in the UK are currently living with dementia, and that number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040, driven largely by Alzheimer’s disease.

Memory problems, confusion, difficulties with thinking and reasoning and language issues can all be early symptoms, before worsening over time.

More than 68,000 people died from dementia in 2025, accounting for around one in six deaths from leading causes recorded.

It marks a decade since dementia overtook heart disease as the UK’s biggest killer – a grim title it has held ever since, apart from during the Covid pandemic.