Medical screening of elderly heads of state
Abstract
As the world population grows older, and as work retirement ages are being increasingly abolished in many countries, it is more likely that there will be elderly Heads of State who hold powerful positions which can result in great good or great harm. On the basis of this narrative review, we propose that elderly Heads of State over the age of 70 years have annual medical screening that includes comprehensive neuropsychological testing, psychiatric screening and brain imaging, so that we can be reassured of the mental integrity of such leaders and so as to prevent harmful decisions being taken by mentally-compromised Heads of State.
Fields of Study & Subjects
History
Medicine
and Leadership
Workplace Health and Well-being
Occupational and Professional Licensing Regulation
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Volume
- 119
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 152–153
- Publication date
- 1 May 2026
- Language
- EN