explore -WSS

explore

author：comprehensive 2025-09-28 00:51:05 - browse：12

Photo illustration of newspaper clips written by Lawrence K Altman about presidents' health – opinion coverage from STAT — Alex Hogan/STAT

When I interviewed Ronald Reagan about his health in 1980, he was 69 and poised to become the oldest person to be elected president. During our conversation, Reagan was mentally sharp. In a light moment he feigned a wrenched back and asked what I (a physician) would do for it.

I asked him about his mother’s health, and he told me that his mother had symptoms suggestive of dementia before she died. I asked what he would do if, as president, he developed the same ailment, and how he would know he had it. His doctors would follow him, he said, and he would resign if they found evidence of cognitive decline. Years later, those remarks would seem particularly noteworthy.

The interview was likely the first in which a future president and his doctors discussed the leader’s health prospectively. (That cooperation was short-lived; Reagan’s aides did not allow reporters to interview him or his doctors when he ran for re-election after what some regarded as a poor debate performance with Walter Mondale.)

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.

Subscribe Log In

Previous article： Hepatitis C has a cure — but many Americans still lack access to it
Next article： Fed up with FDA, ALS advocates consider a take

explore

WSS

What we owe ALS patients — and why one company fell short

Congress extends some pandemic preparedness programs

Bankrupt Pear's prescription app helped MassHealth save money, data suggests

The stability of $0 premiums in Medicare Advantage

What happened to the House vote on health price transparency?

Lawsuit highlights wrinkle for disputes over surprise medical bills

hotspot

explore

explore

Guidelines to prevent youth baseball injuries need more muscle

With Roe v Wade overturned, abortion providers work to adapt

Hepatitis C has a cure — but many Americans still lack access to it

RSV injection headlines need to be accurate for good uptake

Affirmative action in medical school literally saved lives

WHO recommends second malaria vaccine

Bright Health sells Medicare Advantage business to Molina

FDA panel to weigh safety of artificial wombs for preterm births

Walensky prepares to leave CDC — and Congress — behind

Experts study whether long Covid risk adds up with each reinfection

hotspot

The struggle to figure out which patients 'deserve' Wegovy

6 solutions to address cancer drug shortages and others

What will Novo Nordisk's VC do with its influx of cash?

FDA weighs limits of animal data in assessing artificial wombs

What happened to the House vote on health price transparency?

Patients, doctors press FTC to beef up hospital merger scrutiny

hotspot

focus

explore

leisure time