The White House has denied US President Joe Biden is being treated for Parkinson’s disease or has seen a neurologist outside of his annual physicals.

It comes after The New York Times reported visitor logs showed a doctor specialising in the illness visited the White House at least eight times between last August and March.

Concerns Biden might be suffering from an undisclosed illness have risen since he stumbled, appearing frail and losing his train of thought at times, at his June 27 debate against Republican Donald Trump.

Dr Kevin O’Connor, the White House doctor, issued a letter on Monday night (US time) stating that said Biden had not seen a neurologist outside of his normal annual physical.

Biden is battling criticism from some Democrats that he lacks the mental acuity to stand as their nominee against Trump in the November 5 presidential election. He has, however, said he will not abandon his campaign, telling MSNBC via phone on Monday that he was “not going anywhere”.

He urged anyone who wants him to step aside to “challenge me” when the Democratic National Convention meets in August.

Biden expressed frustration with what he called an effort by “elites” to force him out of the presidential race against Trump, whom he defeated in 2020, with the election coming up on November 5.

When Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski ticked off a list of major news organisations and pundits asking for him to step aside, Biden brushed off the question.

“I don’t care what those big names think,” he said.

“The bottom line here is that I’m not going anywhere. I am not going anywhere. I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t absolutely believe that I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”

He urged anyone who wants him to step aside to “challenge me” when the Democratic National Convention meets in August.

Biden expressed frustration with what he called an effort by “elites” to force him out of the presidential race against Trump, whom he defeated in 2020, with the election coming up on November 5.

When Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski ticked off a list of major news organisations and pundits asking for him to step aside, Biden brushed off the question.

“I don’t care what those big names think,” he said.

“The bottom line here is that I’m not going anywhere. I am not going anywhere. I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t absolutely believe that I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”

White House mum on doctors’ visits

A Reuters review of White House visitor logs showed that Dr Kevin Cannard, a neurologist and movement disorders specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, visited the White House eight times between August 2023 and last March. Cannard has co-authored research on treatment for early Parkinson’s disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre.

O’Connor said Cannard’s visits to the White House were part of his neurological clinics aimed at supporting “thousands” of active duty members assigned in support of White House operations and not to treat the president.

Cannard’s visits to the White House were first reported by insta on July 6.

One former White House official, who worked for Biden when he was vice president under president Barack Obama and as president, was treated by the same doctor for migraines in 2016, the former official told Reuters.

The doctor came to the White House once a month then as part of his rotation, the individual said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to confirm or elaborate on Cannard’s visits earlier in the day. In a testy exchange at the regular media briefing, she was frequently challenged by reporters and said she wanted to respect the privacy of all involved for security reasons.

She said Biden had seen a neurologist three times connected to his annual physical exam. She did not explain Cannard’s presence at the White House but suggested it might be connected to treating some of the military personnel who work at the White House complex.

“There are thousands of military personnel that come to the White House and they are under the care of the medical unit,” she said.

-with AAP