WASHINGTON — Does Russian President Vladimir Putin have Asperger’s Syndrome? A think tank at the Pentagon thinks so.
CBS News says that the Office of Net Assessment, an internal think tank at the Pentagon, studied video of Putin’s public actions dating back to 2000, and claims that Putin has Asperger’s, which they defined as “an autistic disorder which affects all of his decisions.”
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines Asperger’s as an “autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of a distinct group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by social impairment, communication difficulties, and restrictive, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.”
They add that it can cause “lack of the normal back and forth conversation; lack of typical eye contact, body language, and facial expression; and trouble maintaining relationships. Fixated interests and repetitive behaviors include repetitive use of objects or phrases, stereotyped movements, and excessive attachment to routines, objects, or interests. Persons with ASD may also respond to sensory aspects of their environment with unusual indifference or excessive interest. ”
The Office of Net Assessment study hypothesizes that Putin’s mother suffered a stroke while she was pregnant with him, and that Putin may have suffered an “insult” to his brain, which may affect the way he thinks and moves his right side, CBS says.
“His primary form of compensation for his disorder is extreme control and this is reflected in his decision style and how he governs,” the report says, according to CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin.
The study doesn’t claim to have seen any scans of Putin’s brain.
