What instances have there been of U.S. presidents releasing cognitive or mental fitness test results?

1. Historic practice: annual physicals, not mandatory cognitive disclosures

The longstanding norm is that White House physicians provide an annual physical and a memo summarizing key findings and fitness-for-duty statements, not comprehensive public neuropsychological reports; there is no legal requirement for routine cognitive testing or public release of detailed mental-health records ^[4]. Presidential medical memos vary in depth and the decision to include cognitive testing has been left to individual physicians and administrations ^{[3] [5]}.

2. What recent presidents have publicly released about cognition

Joe Biden’s 2024 medical report stated he was “fit for duty” and summarized examinations by specialists but — according to some critics and subsequent congressional interest — did not include a formal cognitive test in the final year of his presidency, prompting calls for more formal assessments ^{[3] [6]}. Donald Trump’s camp has repeatedly emphasized he took and “aced” short cognitive screens: his physicians have said Trump underwent a MoCA in 2018 and again in 2025 during Walter Reed exams, and the White House released summaries saying he was “fully fit” ^{[1] [5] [6]}.

3. The tests themselves: screening tools, not definitive diagnostics

News outlets and medical explainers emphasize that brief screens like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment are designed to detect possible impairment and are not intelligence tests or detailed neuropsychological batteries. Reporters and neurologists note these 10‑minute screenings identify signals that may require follow‑up rather than provide a definitive diagnosis of dementia or overall cognitive capacity ^{[7] [8] [9]}.

4. Political theatre and rhetorical use of results

Both disclosure and non-disclosure of cognitive information have been politicized. President Trump has publicly boasted about test scores as political ammunition against older opponents, while opponents and commentators have pressed for independent verification; similarly, critics of Biden sought more explicit cognitive testing after high-visibility lapses, arguing transparency serves public trust ^{[7] [10] [3]}. Media coverage sometimes frames doctors’ memos as intended to reassure the public, but opponents see selective disclosures as politically motivated ^{[6] [11]}.

5. Calls for a new system vs. practical and ethical limits

Medical and ethics commentators have argued for independent, peer-selected health reviews for presidents to depoliticize assessments and increase public trust; others point out limits — privacy, consent, and the complexity of translating clinical nuance into simple “fit/unfit” statements — and say routine fitness-for-duty systems for presidents are unlikely without legal change ^{[12] [3]}. Thought pieces and experts note the science of “fitness for duty” is complex and not reducible to a single short test ^{[3] [4]}.

6. What reporting mentions and what it doesn’t

Reporting documents specific instances: Trump’s MoCA administrations in 2018 and 2025 and White House summaries that described him as “excellent” and “fully fit” ^{[1] [2] [6]}. Coverage also records public pressure around Biden’s cognitive capacity and the absence of a final-year formal cognitive test in his medical memo ^{[3] [6]}. Available sources do not mention any systematic, longstanding presidential protocol requiring annual, published cognitive test scores beyond ad hoc physician memos and occasional short screening tests ^[4].

7. Takeaways for readers evaluating claims

When presidents or surrogates cite a cognitive test, check what was actually administered (e.g., a MoCA screening versus a full neuropsychological battery) and whether independent experts reviewed raw results; brief screens can reassure but are not definitive ^{[8] [9]}. Because disclosures are irregular and politically charged, transparency advocates push for independent review mechanisms, while defenders cite medical privacy and clinician judgment — both perspectives appear in the reporting ^{[12] [3]}.

If you want, I can produce a concise timeline of the specific public cognitive disclosures and statements for recent presidents using only the cited articles.