Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed in a 2012 deposition — as part of his divorce proceedings from his second wife — that he had experienced a parasitic worm eating part of his brain. The finding was first reported by the New York Times on Wednesday, May 8.
Kennedy said that it occurred in 2010, causing memory loss and mental fogginess. At first, doctors suspected a tumor upon finding a dark spot on his brain scans, but one doctor offered a different diagnosis: a dead parasite.
Kennedy claimed the abnormality was discovered in his scans was due to “a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died.” He speculated that the infection may have been contracted during a trip to South Asia.
Around the same time, Kennedy reported suffering from mercury poisoning due to his heavy diet of tuna and perch, both fish known to carry high levels of mercury. Kennedy claimed that he had mercury levels in his body 10 times higher than the recommended amount by the Environmental Protection Agency. Medical experts suggest mercury poisoning could have been the more likely cause of Kennedy memory loss and brain fog.
Infectious disease experts interviewed by The New York Times suggested that based on Kennedy’s descriptions, the parasite was likely a pork tapeworm larva, although they did not treat Kennedy directly.
Tapeworms usually reside in the stomach and intestines, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, the Mayo Clinic does state that it is possible for tapeworms to migrate out of human intestines. In India, a teenager died in 2019 after being infected with tapeworms after the parasite formed cysts in his brain. The brain infection is known as neurocysticercosis and results in around 2,000 hospitalizations a year in the United States.
An expert on parasites at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said once the worm is in the brain, cells calcify around it, which can mimic a tumor on brain scans. The calcification likely remains in the brain forever.
Doctors concluded that Kennedy’s cyst contained the “remains of the parasite.” Kennedy said he has since had it monitored and said there are no changes.
Kennedy also said that he has since recovered from the mercury poisoning after treatment and has no lingering symptoms of memory loss or mental fogginess. However, he has had other health issues in the past, including heart problems and hepatitis C.
When asked by the NYT if his health could impact his capacity to be president, Kennedy’s campaign spokesperson dismissed the notion, saying, “That is a hilarious suggestion, given the competition.”
Doctors do caution that treated parasitic infections and mercury poisoning can lead to permanent brain damage, although full recovery is possible.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not released his medical records. Similarly, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have not released their medical records. Due to the undisclosed medical records of Kennedy, it’s unclear what parasite allegedly died in his brain.
A University of Texas professor of infectious diseases said it is unlikely a parasite would eat part of Kennedy’s brain, as the parasites typically survive on nutrients in the body. He did say that some tapeworm larvae can live in the brain for years without causing issues. Other larvae can cause death, inflammation, seizures, headaches and dizziness.
