Recent books, including “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, “Uncharted” by Chris Whipple and “Fight” by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, have reignited discussion about Joe Biden’s mental acuity during his presidency. Specific to this site, these publications bring attention to a significant medical event from Biden’s past.

In February 1988, then-Senator Biden suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm at age 45, followed by discovery of a second unruptured aneurysm. Both required craniotomy surgeries at Walter Reed, with the ruptured aneurysm carrying approximately a 50% survival rate and significant risk of lifelong disability. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a ruptured brain aneurysm can cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke, vasospasm, hydrocephalus, seizures, coma and death. However, 34% of those who are affected by such an aneurysm have no permanent brain damage, states the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

Related to his service to the country, medical research indicates that survivors of brain aneurysms commonly experience cognitive deficits including memory problems, executive function difficulties, language impairment, and personality changes. Despite these risks, Biden returned to the Senate after six months, served as Vice President for eight years, and was elected President. His neurosurgeon, Dr. Neal Kassell, stated in 2019 that Biden suffered no brain damage* and remained cognitively sharp.

Biden has publicly discussed his aneurysms, writing about them in his memoir “Promises to Keep” and occasionally mentioning them in speeches. Unfortunately, following his trauma, he did not seem to be motivatiod to explore new legislation related to brain injury. (While in Congress, Biden proposed one bill specifically related to brain injury: S.3668, Crime Victims with Disabilities Act of 2008. The bill was introduced on October 1, 2008, read twice, and no further action seems to have been taken.)In his new book, Tapper writes, “[Biden’s] not going to be defeated by brain aneurysms, by this tragedy, by that tragedy,” somewhat deceptively implying the aneurysms occurred recently.

* This article is solely factual; do not interpret any statement as opinion.