Too Old to Be Elected?

We are currently being governed by Baby Boomers who were elected back in the 1980’s. Mostly in their 60s, 70s and 80s, these elected representatives are apparently reluctant to give up their places in the political fabric of our country where they are admired (or reviled) as active, productive, and influential contributors.

I cannot tell you how many times I have shaken my head, remembering my peers in high school, and wondering just how geeks like Mitch McConnell ever made it through those four years, much less got elected to Congress.

Historical Context

Like me, two-thirds of today’s current members of the Senate would have attended public schools and would have stood each day and said the Pledge of Allegiance. Those who recited it in school before 1954 would have learned it without the phrase, “…one Nation, under God”.

The curriculum they studied in elementary, junior and senior high school would have included units on civics, albeit a very, very W.A.S.P. view of the United States. In order to obtain their high school diploma, they would have had to pass a civics exam.

Memorization of key documents of the nation such as the Gettysburg Address, the Preamble to the Constitution, and Declaration of Independence was an expected part of history or civics courses. All the boys would have registered for the draft when they turned 18.

How We Came of Age

Coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s required people to confront challenges to our political system that had not been seen since the Civil War. Cultural norms were being challenged at every known vector. Core values of “duty, honor, Country” were being assailed by activists calling to question the morality of war. Segregation and economic marginalization of people of color were being challenged by the Civil Rights Movement. It was Law and Order vs. Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out.

Law makers and law enforcement officials were confronted with civil disobedience. Riots broke out at the Democratic National Convention and the Mayor of Chicago called out the National Guard. LA, Detroit, and Chicago burned during the riots that sprang up after Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. Everything seemed on the verge of collapse.

The Generation Gap Was Born

Commentators pointed out the generation gap. First it was the music, then it was the war. Then it was the clothing. Finally, it was the youngsters who began to run for office standing in opposition to the War in Viet Nam and forcing the Silent Generation to cede power.

Ironically, there is an eerie mirroring of this happening now, with college students demanding the Old Guard vacate long-held seats. And, as evidence, the ages of the two leading candidates for the Presidency happen to be 77 and 81, respectively. But what does age alone tell us?

Variability in Functioning Across the Lifespan

We now have a more detailed and broader understanding of the variability found in the biologic and cognitive aspects of aging across the lifespan. Specifically, heart disease, diabetes, substance use, and stress increase the likelihood that overall health will be compromised and functional impairment will result. These individual conditions, however, are impacted by social determinants of health, genetics and access to preventative healthcare, and point to a great deal of variability of functioning, depending on when you were born and where you grew up.

Some Specific Examples

Without knowing actual medical histories of our elected officials, it is difficult to say how many of our Senators or Representatives are being treated and monitored for specific conditions. But there is a good probability that a number of them are (e.g., John Fetterman or Steve Scalise).

For example, heart disease and diabetes frequently occur in older adults. Cognitive consequences of heart problems and diabetes include slowed cognition, confusion, poor concentration, and impaired memory. These impairments can range in intensity from none to severe, and may not be present on a consistent basis. All are treatable conditions.

What does this mean? It means we need additional criteria to decide whether a person is capable of serving. It means we don’t really know how well our elected officials are functioning because we don’t see them on a day-to-day basis. It means we can’t choose on age alone.

More Examples: Substance Use

According to studies published in Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, risky drinking is a problem for many older adults, especially for older men. Prevalence rates would suggest that there is a strong possibility that some Senators and/or Representatives engage in risky drinking, have an alcohol (or other substance) use disorder, or are functionally impaired because of substance use on occasion.

Consequences of these behaviors, particularly if chronic, include impaired decision-making, liver failure, metabolic changes, and memory impairment. And it is not limited to risky drinking. If any Member is prescribed medications, there is a potential for drug interactions that may also impact decision-making and memory.

And Then There is Alzheimer’s

Of course the possibility of cognitive impairment from Alzheimer’s or another dementia exists. Prevalence rates for these diseases increase the older we get. While we don’t know the cause, we do understand more clearly how to identify the functional impairments that come with this disease. The predominant complaint is failing memory.

This is not to imply that all older members of the Senate or the House have or will acquire some form of dementia. Statistically, however, there is a strong possibility that one or two members do have problems with executive functioning, which includes decision-making, and abilities to understand consequences of actions, pay attention and not become distracted, and recall things. Any one of these aspects of cognitive functioning could prove a barrier for some to performing at the levels demanded as an elected official.

Functional Impact

All of this is to say that we all become more vulnerable as we age, and while there is a definite advantage in terms of acquired experience and wisdom, our capacities may be more limited and we may need to use different strategies for finding solutions to problems.

There is an eerie echo to all of this unfolding today. It is a psychological principle that past actions often predict future behaviors. If this be true, then we can hope that our better natures will take over and we will find a way through our current challenges.

Do Voters Have a Right to Know?

Such information as described above is considered privileged when shared with a medical or behavioral health care professional, so unless the individual has made this information public, the voters will not be aware of it.

I suggest we need to re-think criteria used to elect our representatives. Given the challenges of the world we now live in, I would like some way of knowing that the person putting him/her/themselves up for election is fit for the office in terms of physical health, functional capacity, political philosophy, and ability to fight for and preserve those things I truly value.