Adderall.

We were all wondering who would show up to the State of The Union this past Thursday.

Would it be the "Mumbler-in-Chief?"  Stumbling to his lectern and then fumbling through a speech somebody else wrote?  While nodding off on national TV?   Or would it be "Dark Brandon?"  His Alter Ego?  The guy who screams at "MAGA" supporters and calls them evil?

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I'm going to tell you a little story about Adderall.

If you're unfamiliar with this drug, it belongs to a family of psychostimulants, including Ritalin and Concerta.

As a class, these drugs, with Adderall in particular, are used by pediatricians, psychiatrists and gerontologists, in an effort to lower the incidence and degree of AD/HD in children and young people, and early- to mid-stage dementia in the elderly.  Adderall has been shown in certain cases to modify the trajectory of cognitive impairment, which has been suggested in previous published research.

Adderall is a stimulant.    It increases the body's production of dopamine, which is our "feel good" hormone.  The same hormone produced when we consume cocaine and methamphetamine.  It is most commonly used in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.  But it is often prescribed "off label" to combat conditions such as drowsiness, slurred speech, appetite loss, and depression.  

In other words, this drug helps improve attention and focus.  Especially in the elderly, where short-term memory loss and focus impairment are normal.  However, it may lead to impulsive, and possibly anti-social comments and behaviors, as well as angry outbursts at inopportune moments.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention.  I was actually the "Special Psychotropic Representative" for the Pfizer Drug Company way back when.  I actually schooled rooms full of psychiatrists on the use of combination antipsychotic and psychotropic  medications in the treatment of schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses.  And also using selected psychotropic agents in combination in the treatment of early-stage dementia.   

So I have a little background in the subject.  And I've noticed an apparent alarming decline in the mental acuity of our President.  He evidences every sign of early-onset dementia.*  Except on a few rather indelible instances.  So indelible they demand our investigation.  When he gave last year's State of the Union Address, as an example.  And when he gave his blood-red "Dark Brandon" speech in front of Independence Hall a few months back.  

And when he gave yesterday's SOTU Address.  

In all three, he was animated, angry, outspoken, combative and loud.  It's as if somebody told him that "loud" and "angry" equated to "firm and commanding,"  It was also obvious that this halting old man, this doddering, shuffling aged gent, for whom just walking to his helicopter is a task, was taken over by "Dark Brandon."  His Alter Ego.  "Super Joe" was in the building!  To reassure his worried backers.  And he was going to let everyone know it!

Especially those in his Party who'd been sending up smoke signals that they were on the verge of revolt.  

Which made me think back on my extensive training in pharmacology and psychotropics.  I saw a correlation.  A palpable change.  From Wednesday to yesterday.  Did somebody help good ol' Joe get "up" for his SOTU Speech?  

Many of us watched his welcome stammering, almost unrecognizable remarks to the new Ambassador from Sweden on its entry into NATO on Wednesday.   And then sermonize and condemn anyone who differed with his version of reality, at the top of his lungs, on Thursday.

It was "Old Yeller" who showed up.  The mean old grandpa screaming "Get off my lawn!"

Was that difference stark enough for those of you who still doubt what your eyes and ears witnessed?   

Was it?     

*    I am not a doctor.  Thank God.  And I'm not playing one here.  I'm not providing my Fellow Patriots with a diagnosis.  I am simply stating the obvious.  An obviousness one has to be hippppmotizzzed not to notice...