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Does Vladimir Putin have cancer, Parkinson’s or dementia?

People commented how Putin's face appeared 'bloated' in his meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu

April 26, 2022 - 10:47am

Vladimir Putin is a medical miracle. Over the past few months, the Russian leader has been remotely diagnosed with enough diseases to fill a textbook. And yet, somehow, he staggers on.

In recent weeks Putin, 69, has been described by political commentators as “aged” and “ashen and bloaty”, with former foreign secretary David Owen reportedly telling the Times Radio that Putin’s “oval face” was a sign of steroid use.

And what is this steroid use thought to indicate? That Putin has cancer, of course. This was confirmed by an unnamed source — reportedly from the Pentagon — who was quoted by the Daily Star as stating that Putin was dying of bowel cancer and that his “angry look is most likely as a result of him being in agony”. This isn’t the only cancer diagnosis proposed, however. Dr Dalgleish, an Oncology Professor at St George’s Hospital suggested to GB News that Putin may well have a brain tumour. The Daily Mail, meanwhile, agrees about Putin’s cancer diagnosis, but it’s thyroid, not bowel, cancer that he’s suffering from.

From TikTok users to senior establishment figures, the endless speculation over Putin’s health has created an industry unto itself. This has at time reached ridiculous lengths, with body language experts suggesting that Putin’s “excessive blinking” gave away his underlying anxiety. Another psychotherapist has speculated that Putin is suffering from “Psychosis and a personality disorder commenting that, in recent weeks, “the voices inside Putin’s head would likely have become so much more real.”

This medical guesswork is nothing new. In fact, Putin’s “puffy appearance” has been the source of speculation since as far back as 2014 — around the same time as the invasion of Crimea. Back then commentators were suggesting that Putin may be suffering from “spinal cord cancer”, or even pancreatic cancer.

So far the list has included thyroid cancer, bowel cancer, pancreatic cancer, spinal cord cancer, a brain tumour, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, steroid misuse, psychosis and a personality disorder. With all these ailments, it’s a small wonder that Putin has managed to keep hold of the Presidency of Russia.

Of course, at 69-years-old, things are likely to starting to catch up with the Russian President in some way or another. But the truth is that very few people in the West (or even Russia) know about Putin’s physical or mental state, and the endless speculation only creates more confusion.

To try to rationalise Putin’s actions in Ukraine by blaming it on disease is desperate. Perhaps his barbarism is not due to Parkinson’s or cancer, but simply a result of him being foolhardy and arrogant. Poor decision making does not require a medical diagnosis.


Amy Jones is an anonymous doctor who has a background in Philosophy & Bioethics.

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Lennon Ó Náraigh
Lennon Ó Náraigh
2 years ago

So, Vlad has dementia/cancer/thyroid/personality disorder, not to mention the old Donald, who was afflicted with the same panoply of phantom ailments. It is all well and good for the legacy media to make these armchair diagnoses. But to say anything about the health of St Joe of the Great White House of Pennsylvania Ave. would be sacrilege.

Jeremy Bray
Jeremy Bray
2 years ago

A good piece ridiculing the remote diagnoses we have been fed by the MSM. Nice too that his misogyny and what it means for Ukrainian women is not explored despite all the temptation provided by his troops’ behaviour.

Michele Sherman
Michele Sherman
2 years ago

My mother had Parkinson. Her walking gait shenstarted to Shuffle, at times she would be a little stiff-legged, and she had the tremors. I know all people are different but my mom never tapped her foot, her foot shook a little side to side. Also because her her walking gait changed she started to lean forward slightly for balance, personally I don’t see that action with Putin, but he could be in the early stages I’m not a doctor just saying what I know from my personal experience. Also people with Parkinsons don’t swing their arms, and a weird expression in her eyes. they lose a lot of the expression in their face because Parkinson’s deals with muscles, and nerves. The muscles of a person with Parkinsons freeze up is the bast way I can explain it. Also she hallucinated, had something called Sundowners from the Parkinson’s where Shadows would make her very fearful, and she became demented. This what we want someone with a nuclear button to have

N T
N T
2 years ago

I feel like we are understating the concern we all had after The Donald’s exposure to Agent Orange.

Sam McGowan
Sam McGowan
2 years ago

They did the same thing with Donald Trump.

Lesley van Reenen
Lesley van Reenen
2 years ago

Excellent. Now where is the piece about Sir Elon taking over Twitter?