Donald Trump Gives Bizarre Reason He Feels He Won't Develop Alzheimer's Like His Father

In December 2025, President Donald Trump gave an interview to New York Magazine in an attempt to set the record straight on his health, which he has frequently stated is "perfect." 

During the interview, a number of topics were discussed, ranging from his frequently bruised hands to his excessive daily aspirin dose (the president has long taken 325 milligrams of the drug versus the recommended 81 milligrams because he wants "real thin blood"). The interviewer also asked about Trump's father, Fred, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in his later years.

The president said that the elder Trump had a "heart that couldn't be stopped" and had experienced good health throughout most of his life. However, he did have one major health issue in his later years. "At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting, what do they call it?" he asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, pointing to his own head. Once Leavitt had provided him with the word "Alzheimer's," he continued, declaring, "Well, I don't have it."

The president was also asked about whether he had any concerns about himself developing dementia. "No, I don't think about it at all," Trump answered. "You know why? Because whatever it is, my attitude is whatever."

However, the fact that Trump has taken three cognitive tests during the first year of his second term has caused some to question whether it's possible that he could have inherited Alzheimer's disease from his father. Is the president at risk?

Despite Trump's bravado, the Alzheimer's Association explains that the disease does tend to run in families, with individuals who have either a parent or sibling with Alzheimer's disease being more likely to develop dementia than those who don't.

However, just because you have the genes associated with Alzheimer's disease, that doesn't mean you will develop it, according to Prevention. In fact, with late-onset Alzheimer's, the type that Fred Trump had, increasing age is the biggest risk factor. So, while it's possible that Donald Trump could have inherited genes from his father that would increase his risk, this doesn't mean that it's his destiny to experience the same cognitive decline that his father did.

Prevention also notes that there are multiple lifestyle choices you can make to help protect your brain's health, including eating a healthy diet, getting adequate exercise, keeping your mind busy, staying socially active, managing your blood pressure, and taking care of your cardiovascular health.