Some time ago, I remarked on this forum that there had appeared to be a marked deterioration in Donald Trump’s conversation and speech when his comments during the campaign and presidency were contrasted with interviews he made a few decades ago. There has been noticeable loss of vocabulary, linguistic complexity, and even grammar and syntax in his English prose. I speak of his spoken conversation, not written or prepared speeches. The ability to speak cogently and effectively off-the-cuff is highly correlated with other cognitive functions. We are, to a very great extent, what we say.

Trump struck me at the time, in earlier interviews with clever and even hostile journalists, as articulate and fast, poised and intelligent; a clever man who held his own and could very well have achieved his wealth and notoriety by means of his wit, charm and poise–not to mention a natural shrewdness and cunning and genuine intelligence. He came across as a nimble mind, an educated man, a formidable opponent. He certainly doesn’t come across that way now. I concede my own opinion may be clouded by my own partisan prejudices, but I stand by my assessment. I don’t like Ted Cruz or Newt Gingrich’s politics either, but I recognize their intellect. I used to see that in Mr Trump, but I don’t see it any more.

He’s older now, and its natural that he has lost his good looks and physical charm, but there has also been an undeniable and striking loss of his ability to communicate. Its almost as if he’s gotten a lot dumber, as if he has lost 20 or 40 points of IQ. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m about his age, and I’ve noticed that I am not as sharp myself as I used to be 10 or 20 years ago. Its only natural, we get a little bit older and a little bit slower. But in Mr Trump’s case, I suggest the deterioration is much more advanced, much more noticeable and severe. It’s not natural and its downright scary.

At the time I first commented on these changes (I wish I could remember just when I posted about this!) I wondered if perhaps he had just deliberately dumbed down his public discourse to be able to appeal more to his base. Perhaps I’m being unfair here, or revealing my prejudices, but the Bubbas and the Bunkers don’t care much for uppity smarty-pants elitists. Its an Archie vs Meathead sort of thing. Now I wonder if maybe the problem is more biological than ideological.

Now, anyone can botch an occasional public statement. Dubya was famous for his twisted syntax and priceless non sequiturs, he was the Casey Stengel of the GOP. And we all remember the embarrassing verbal performances of Sen John McCain and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry under the influence of powerful drugs due to treatment for surgical pain. That was temporary and certainly understandable, but this is very different.

Just google “Trump Dementia” and you will see plenty of examples and archival video to illustrate these points. I am not the first person to notice this. Perhaps we have been unfair to Mr Trump, much could be explained if we just recognized he was, through no fault of his own, a sick man. But if those in his inner circle have noticed any of this, they have certainly been unfair to the rest of us.