Aging leadership

How old is too old? An article in Time Magazine states: “At some point, and statistically it’s in the 80’s, you begin a more rapid decline.”

Physically and mentally, we pose questions about the current president’s fitness and there are questions about the previous one as well. Ronald Reagan had issues near the end of his administration at age 78.

A cognitive assessment test is available from Medicare and is part of a routine doctor’s visit through direct observation or by considering information from the patient, family, friends, caregivers and others.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no specific test to confirm a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but criteria have been developed by a panel of international experts based on overall mental function and daily activities. The Short Test of Mental Status may help determine the degree of memory impairment, which types of memory are most affected, and whether other mental skills also are impaired.

Does wisdom come with age? Young and old alike may fail to learn from their mistakes but would it be reasonable to have a yearly evaluation of those in leadership positions? Based on today’s political climate, could they be removed if proven incompetent?

Amanda Litman says of our reigning gerontocracy, “The advanced age of our elected officials is a huge problem, an open secret.” Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a 24-year-old running for Congress in Florida, states, “I do think there’s an age at which people just become out of touch with things.”