Honestly, if you’re looking at Joe Biden’s health right now, you’re looking at a story that changed almost overnight once he left the White House. For four years, the conversation was all about "stiff gaits" and "mental acuity." Now, in 2026, the focus has shifted to something way more clinical and, frankly, a lot heavier.
Let’s be real. It’s a lot to keep track of. One day he’s the "active 81-year-old" described by Dr. Kevin O’Connor, and the next, he’s a private citizen facing a Stage IV cancer diagnosis.
So, how is Joe Biden’s health really doing?
✨ Don't miss: Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital NY: What Most People Get Wrong About Its Legacy
The short answer is: He is currently fighting a very aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. It’s not just "old age" anymore. We’re talking about a Gleason score of 9—that’s medical speak for "this cancer is moving fast and it’s not playing around."
The Reality of the Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
In May 2025, just a few months after he handed over the keys to the Oval Office, the news broke. It wasn't just a routine check-up. The former president was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.
Specifically, the cancer had already reached his bones.
When doctors see a Gleason score of 9, they know they’re dealing with high-grade, poorly differentiated cells. Basically, the cells look nothing like healthy prostate tissue. They’re aggressive.
✨ Don't miss: Bump on Daith Piercing: Why It’s There and How to Fix It
But here’s the nuance: the medical team, including specialists from Walter Reed and beyond, noted that the cancer is "hormone-sensitive."
What does that actually mean for him?
- Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT): He’s essentially on drugs that starve the cancer of testosterone.
- Radiation Therapy: As of late 2025, he started targeted radiation to deal with the bone metastases.
- The Outlook: While Stage IV is technically incurable, "hormone-sensitive" means they can often keep it at bay for years.
The Physical Toll Nobody Noticed (Until They Did)
Remember how he used to walk? That stiff, cautious gait? For years, the White House chalked that up to "degenerative disc disease" and "wear and tear."
By February 2024, his official medical summary was already listing moderate to severe spondylosis. His spine was basically showing the receipts of 80+ years of life. But by 2026, the narrative has darkened a bit.
The House Oversight Committee has spent a good chunk of the last year digging into whether those reports were, well, a little too optimistic. Dr. Kevin O’Connor actually pleaded the Fifth Amendment during a deposition in July 2025 when asked if he was pressured to sugarcoat the president’s fitness.
Current Chronic Conditions
It's not just the cancer. Biden is also managing:
- Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib): His heart rhythm is irregular, which he manages with Eliquis to prevent strokes.
- Peripheral Neuropathy: He has nerve damage in his feet. This is why he sometimes looked like he was walking on eggshells. It’s a loss of sensation, specifically heat and cold, that has slowly climbed higher up his legs.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: He’s been a diligent CPAP user since at least 2023.
The Cognitive Question: 2026 Perspective
You can’t talk about how is Joe Biden’s health without touching the third rail: his brain.
While in office, he never took a formal, public-facing neurocognitive test like the MoCA. He famously told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that "every day is a cognitive test."
In 2026, the debate has moved from "Is he fit to serve?" to "What was actually happening behind the scenes?" A staff report titled The Biden Autopen Presidency alleged that aides were essentially running a "cover-up" of his diminishing faculties.
Whether you believe the political rhetoric or not, Biden himself admitted in a January 2025 interview with USA Today that he wasn't sure he’d have had the "vigor" for another four years. That’s a pretty big admission from a guy who, months earlier, was insisting he was the only one who could do the job.
What Most People Get Wrong
People tend to think a cancer diagnosis at 83 is an immediate death sentence. It’s not.
Actually, many men Joe Biden’s age die with prostate cancer, not of it. However, the "aggressive" label and the bone spread make his case significantly more complex.
He’s also had skin cancer. In September 2025, he had more basal cell carcinoma removed from his forehead. It’s a separate thing from the prostate issue, but it shows his body is fighting on multiple fronts.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
If you’re following Biden’s health because you’re worried about a loved one in a similar boat, there are some real takeaways here.
- Don't ignore the walk. Gait changes (that "stiff walk") are often the first sign of either neurological or severe spinal issues. Physical therapy is the "medication" for this—Biden was doing it 4-5 times a week.
- The "Silent" Screenings. Biden’s prostate cancer was likely caught because of a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test. If you’re over 50 (or 45 for high-risk groups), that blood test is a non-negotiable.
- Metastatic doesn't mean "done." With modern hormone therapy and bone-strengthening agents, people live high-quality lives for years even with Stage IV prostate cancer.
- Watch for Neuropathy. If you notice you can't feel the temperature of the shower water on your feet, tell a doctor. It's often linked to diabetes, but in Biden's case, it was "idiopathic"—meaning they don't know exactly why it happened.
Biden is currently spending most of his time at his beach house in Delaware or in Wilmington, receiving private care. The "active" lifestyle has slowed down, naturally, as the radiation and hormone treatments tend to cause significant fatigue and muscle loss.
The most important thing to watch for next is how he responds to the hormone therapy. Usually, the body eventually becomes "castrate-resistant," meaning the drugs stop working. That’s the pivot point medical experts are watching for in 2026.