Understanding the Intersection of Ageism and Dementia‐Related Stigma During the American Presidential Election: A Thematic Analysis of Social Media Discourse

Our findings shed light on how social media discourse can threaten the credibility of older political leaders by shifting the focus from campaign policies to dementia-related stigma and ageism. The persistent questioning of the candidates' competence, coupled with ageist rhetoric, may undermine the credibility of older political leaders and public trust in the electoral system. Further research is needed to address the impact of ageism and dementia-related stigma on political leaders' credibility and the larger electoral system.