White House admits Parkinsons expert has examined Biden but says only for his annual physicals – New York Post

The White House admitted Monday that a Parkinsons expert whos visited the executive mansion eight times in as many months has evaluated President Biden but said the exams only took place during the presidents annual physicals.

The revelation was disclosed in a letter from Bidens personal physician Dr. Kevin OConnor hours after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to explain the flurry of recent visits from the Parkinsons specialist, Dr. Kevin Cannard.

Dr. Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals, OConnor wrote in the letter.

President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical, OConnor said.

OConnor stressed that while Cannards specialty is treating patients with movement disorders like Parkinsons, he has practiced as a general neurologist for six years and has been the neurology consultant to the White House medical unit since 2012.

He also reiterated that Bidens last physical in February revealed no indications that the president had Parkinsons or other neurological disorders.

The letter follows a fiery exchange between Jean-Pierre and reporters earlier in the day in which the White House spokesperson refused to explain the nature of Cannards visits, citing security concerns.

Cannard traveled from his post at Walter Reed National Military Medical Medical Center to the White House residence clinic eight times for early morning visits between July 2023 and March 2024.

The logs show that the specialist met with Megan Nasworthy, who coordinates primary care visitsfor the president and his family, seven times at the White House. He met with OConnor and Dr. John Atwood, a cardiologist at Walter Reed, during his other visit.

But OConnor said Cannard often visits the White House medical unit to meet with members of the military and has hosted regular neurology clinics there for active-duty service members.

Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, he has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations, the presidents physician wrote.

Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice.

The physician and other White House officials, however, did not say if Cannards visits included consulting on Bidens health when he didnt see the president directly.

Bidens cognitive health has been under intense scrutiny by both Republicans and Democrats since he bombed in the debate against former President Donald Trump, 78, last month.

Doctors who have not examined or treated Biden themselves said his disastrous debate performance punctuated by blank stares, a shuffling gait, soft speech and slurred words aligns with common symptoms of Parkinsons or related cognitive disorders.

Dr. Rob Howard, a professor of old age psychiatry atUniversity College London, said the presidents fluctuation in attentional function, his facial appearance, and his gait during the debate stood out to him as possible signs that something was off.

I am not saying its Parkinsons disease, I am just pointing out that there are features to him that are consistent with Parkinsons disease, he said.

Bidens team of doctors disputed the claims and said they found no reason to re-examine him since his annual in February.

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White House admits Parkinsons expert has examined Biden but says only for his annual physicals - New York Post