On Friday during a rally in North Carolina, a 79-year-old Trump reminded the crowd of his “perfect health” by bragging that he has “aced” three cognitive exams.
“This is big stuff. This is at Walter Reed, I’ve got a whole team of doctors all over the place,” he told the crowd Friday.
The cognitive tests Trump describes are a screening test for dementia patients.
What is Sundown Syndrome? Many people are saying Trump’s behavior seems similar.
Sundowning is a term well-known in nursing homes and other geriatric health centers.
Used to describe the attitude and habits of older patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia, the condition outlines the rise in agitation, anxiety, and disorientation felt by these patients typically between the hours of dusk to nightfall.
The drug Haldol has been used to help curb these behaviors, which often results in a visible tiredness in the late afternoon and early evening that has been nicknamed “Haldol Hangover.”
Trump’s public sleepy time attacks have increasingly been a topic of discussion, with some professionals speaking up.
“There’s a term when you’re talking about people with dementia called sundowning, it’s a lot harder for them as the day goes on,” clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis explained. “It’s very difficult for them to maintain focus on a topic.”
Trump’s meeting schedule has also been shortened to start later and end earlier. And while a short sleep schedule at night may seem impressive, it could also be a result of insomnia, a condition brought on by sundowning.
Following an 18-minute address to the nation on Wednesday, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, the cardiologist for the late Vice President Dick Cheney told CNN that the president’s “manic cadence” was “very disturbing.” The doctor added: “We’ve never seen the president like that.”