2008 Pentagon study says Putin has 'an autistic disorder'

A 2008 study from a Pentagon think tank, written by an expert in movement pattern analysis, speculated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has Asperger's syndrome, "an autistic disorder which affects all of his decisions."

The report was obtained by USA Today through a Freedom of Information Act request. In 2008, Brenda Connors, an expert in movement pattern analysis at the U.S. Naval War College, and her colleagues were contractors for the Office of Net Assessment, an internal Pentagon think tank that creates long-term military strategy. In a study, Connors wrote that Putin's "neurological development was significantly interrupted in infancy," and after watching his movement, it was determined "the Russian president carries a neurological abnormality."

The report said that researchers could not say for certain if Putin had Asperger's because they did not have a brain scan, and cited Dr. Stephen Porges, now at the University of North Carolina, as saying that "Putin carries a form of autism." USA Today contacted Porges, who said he would "back off saying he has Asperger's." He did say that for a better interaction with Putin, the U.S. needs to meet with him in a quieter place, as his behavior and facial expressions appear to reveal someone who becomes defensive in a large social setting.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up