Joe Biden will undergo a medical exam scheduled for Thursday, a milestone for the oldest US president ahead of his scheduled re-election bid in 2024.
The White House has promised to release the report from the president’s 80-year-old doctor, as he did during his previous checkup in 2021.
Despite low ratings, Biden has been signaling for some time that he intends to run again, potentially setting himself up for a rematch with his predecessor, Donald Trump, who has already announced his candidacy.
“I think that’s my intention, but I haven’t made a firm decision yet,” Biden told PBS on Feb. 8.
Biden’s final checkup came on Nov. 19, 2021, when he underwent a full exam, including a colonoscopy, under general anesthesia.
He handed over his powers for an hour and 25 minutes to US Vice President Kamala Harris, making her the first woman in US history to hold presidential powers.
Biden’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, then painted a portrait of a healthy man capable of performing his presidential duties. But he also pointed to relatively minor signs of old age and noted Biden’s stiffer gait, attributing it to a mild nerve condition affecting his feet; as well as frequent coughing caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Biden does not smoke, drink, play sports and has had no major health issues since having surgery in 1988.
In July last year he was diagnosed with Covid-19, but the illness was mild.
His age remains the target of attacks from some Republicans.
