Donald Trump’s decline is clear and I can tell you how after all, I’m just as old as him

I recently had a small health scare nothing serious, but enough to remind me that I’m getting older. When you’re close to 80, these things start to happen. Thankfully, I’m fine for now.

But the experience made me think about age, health, and someone who’s almost the same age as me  Donald Trump. He’s just 10 days older. Looking at him, I can’t say he seems especially healthy.

Still, Trump has one major health problem I don’t have: hatred. He’s said it himself  “I hate my opponents.” Hate is a poison. It doesn’t just affect your mind; it damages your body too. When people live with constant anger and resentment, their bodies stay in fight-or-flight mode. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline stay high, which can lead to heart problems, high blood pressure, poor sleep, weak immunity, and even stomach issues. Hate eats you from the inside out  literally.

Recently, Trump spent about three hours at the Bethesda Naval Hospital for what his doctor said was a “scheduled follow-up.” While he was there, he got his flu shot and a COVID booster  a fact worth noting for those who still question vaccines. The White House first said it was a “routine yearly checkup,” then changed the story to say it was a “semiannual physical.”

Even without hate, getting old means the body starts wearing down. My friends and I often joke that when we meet up, the first thing we do is what we call an “organ recital.” We talk about our aching backs, bad knees, sore hips, hearing loss, heart issues  you name it. The list can go on long enough to ruin lunch.

I doubt Trump has those kinds of talks with friends, mostly because I’m not sure he has old friends. He doesn’t seem like the kind of person who builds real relationships. For him, people are part of deals  every interaction is a transaction. Friendships don’t grow out of deals. Yet doctors who study aging say that genuine friendships are one of the best things for staying healthy as we get older.

Another thing my friends and I quietly pay attention to these days is mental decline. We don’t ask each other directly, “So, how’s your memory holding up?” But we listen carefully  are sentences making sense? Are thoughts clear? Is speech slowing down or getting jumbled?

I’ve noticed I forget things more often. I write lists to help myself remember what to do, then forget where I put the lists. That’s just part of aging. Our minds don’t stay as sharp as they once were. But Trump’s mental decline seems faster than normal. If you read transcripts of some of his recent speeches, especially the one to the military leadership a few weeks ago, it’s hard not to notice signs of confusion and rambling.

At his April physical, Trump took a short test meant to screen for memory and thinking problems. Before the test, he bragged about how well he had done on the previous one saying he got a “perfect score.” He repeated that several times, as if needing people to believe it made it more true. But think about it: does someone who’s mentally healthy need to constantly tell the world how perfect they are?

Another good sign of a healthy mind is the ability to laugh at yourself. The smartest, most grounded older people I know still have that kind of humor they can see the funny side of their own mistakes and aging. I’ve never once seen Trump make a joke at his own expense. He takes himself far too seriously and seems to have no sense of humor at all.

When it comes to how long people live, genes play a big role. My mother lived to 86, though her last few years were rough. My father made it almost to 102 and stayed sharp to the end. Trump’s parents also lived fairly long lives — his mother died at 88 and his father at 93, though his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 86.

These days, living into your 80s is expected, thanks to modern medicine and technology. But as you near that age, what matters even more than how long you live is how well you live  your health span. Can you still think clearly, feel good, and live independently? That’s what really counts.

Trump may be spending his later years spreading chaos and division. As for me, I’ll keep using my time and energy to write and speak out about how dangerous that behavior is. After all, I’m 10 days younger  and still going strong.