Dementia in US officials may represent national security risk, Pentagon-funded study says

WASHINGTON (TND) — U.S. officials with dementia may pose a national security threat, according to a study funded by the Pentagon.

Factors including longer life expectancy and more people working later in life are significant drivers of increased dementia in the U.S. workforce, the study published by RAND Corporation's National Security Research Division says.

“The workforce might experience a higher prevalence of dementia than in past generations. Taken together, we believe that an increasing number of cleared personnel—that is, personnel who hold or have held security clearances—have or will have dementia,” the study reads.

This, according to the study, increases the chances of individuals within the U.S. government with high security clearance experiencing dementia and becoming poor custodians of sensitive information. Though this issue presents a growing security risk, the study acknowledges that it will be a difficult one to counteract.

“The risk that an individual becomes a national security threat because of dementia symptoms depends on many factors, such as the nature of the classified information they hold, for how long the unauthorized disclosure of that information could cause damage (including serious or exceptionally grave damage), and whether the individual is targeted by an adversary to obtain that information,” it reads.

READ MORE | Nearly 80% of adults say Biden is too old to be reelected, survey shows

The study then suggests that sensitive information be handled according to a risk matrix that includes dementia-causing factors and the potential damage that could result from mishandled information. One example matrix chart lists intervention options from holding an education session to finding high-risk individuals assisted living options.

Several major political figures have recently been included in the growing debate around whether the government should impose term limits on aging politicians.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is 81, recently experienced two freezing incidents which some believed to be a stroke or seizure.

READ MORE | Green Bay Packers player condemns Pelosi's reelection campaign: 'Actually crazy'

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence turned 90 in June and recently ceded power of attorney to her daughter. She had previously been prompted to “just say aye” during a Senate hearing. Feinstein says she will not seek reelection.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, announced he would not seek reelection in 2024, ending his career at 76. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, 83, recently announced she would seek reelection to Congress, something Green Bay Packers player David Bakhtiari called “actually crazy.”