Daytime Sleepiness vs Dementia and the Case of President Biden

Dementia is the permanent, irreversible loss of the ability to form new memories, for exaample, today's date.

Daytime sleepiness from inadequate amounts of REM and Stage IV deep sleep is as impairing as intoxication on illegal alcohol blood levels. All the above functions can be affected as well. However, the remedy to daytime sleepiness is a good night's sleep. Another is a 30 minute nap. That is the limit of time for a nap to refresh, but to avoid spoiling that night's sleep. The other remedy for daytime sleepiness is modafinil 200 mg, pproved for sleepiness associated with inadequately treated sleep apnea.

I reviewed the case against "Fit for Duty" requirement for the police, punishing sleepiness at work. An accommodation for daytime sleepiness is imperative, especially if the job has caused the daytime sleepiness. The best is a 30 minute nap. An alternative is to take modafinil 200 mg for wakefulness, without effect on emotions or on thinking.

Biden has sleep apnea. He might have daytime sleepiness in the absence of a review of his medical record. Please, stop saying, Biden is demented. Biden should consider coming out about his sleep apnea, to help the majority of those with it who are untreated. It is not a disqualifying condition if treated with regular use of CPAP, implants, naps shorter than 30 minutes, and modafinil 200 mg in the AM. His doctor should provide that medication to cover the hours when alertness will be important.

As to slowing, the human body loses 0.5% of its dopamine neurons each year from birth, and movement slows from age 2. If fast movement is a requirement, then a 5-year-old should be president. Performance on cognitive tests peaks at age 16. In order to give a 40-year-old an IQ of 100, one must allow 50% of the right answers required at 16. Same thing, make a 16-year-old President if performance on a cognitive test is relevant to political leadership. As to trouble with word finding, the most common causes do not include dementia, but aging, language processing problems, inattention and distraction, stress and fatigue.

Remarks about the mental performance of President Biden are ad hominem remarks. They commit the Fallacy of Irrelevance. Biden should be criticized about his policies. On the other hand, did Biden make any of his decisions while sleepy? If Biden mistakes were made while sleepy, add them to the list of historic disasters caused by sleepiness.