Hmm, apparently the new King of Saudi Arabia has advanced Altzheimer's. Should we be concerned?

[Electric Monk]

http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/saudi-palace-coup-37093212

(snip)

Salman suffers from Alzheimers


Salman’s state of health is cause for concern, which is why the power he has given his son is more significant than other appointments announced. Aged 79, Salman is known to have Alzheimers, but the exact state of his dementia is a source of speculation. He is known to have held cogent conversations as recently as last October. But he can also forget what he said minutes ago, or faces he has known all his life, according to other witnesses. This is typical of the disease. I understand the number of hospital visits in the last few months has increased and that he did not walk around, as he did before.

So his ability to steer the ship of state, in a centralised country where no institutions, political parties or even national politics exist is open to question.

also

http://www.straight.com/blogra/812751/does-saudi-arabias-new-king-salman-have-alzheimers-disease

(snip)

It's not a very auspicious sign when commentators start zeroing in on the health of the new king of the world's largest oil producer.

Salman bin Abdulaziz Saud, 79, has assumed the throne after the death of his half-brother, 91-year-old King Abdullah.

According to the Washington Institute's Simon Henderson, Salman's brain is "evidently ravaged by dementia".

"Visitors report that after a few minutes of conversation, he becomes incoherent," Henderson wrote on December 31.

[uppityperson]

1. My condolences to anyone dealing with that awful disease. That said, Reagan managed for a while

Papa bush was a big help. So, it depends on who is helping him.

[Bigmack]

3. No problem! The Middle East is so stable that we don't have to worry. nt

[herding cats]

4. Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz is his successor, right?

Abdullah basically was the defacto ruler for a decade while he was the successor. I imagine that's what we'll see again with Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, whose name I may not have correct.