About ten years ago, during a heated divorce from his second wife, Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. said he had several health issues, even suggesting that a worm ate part of his brain, the NY Times reported.
In 2010, Kennedy Jr., who is now 70 years old, started experiencing significant memory loss and mental fog. He mentioned this in a 2012 deposition, given two years later.
According to the New York Times, Kennedy consulted with leading neurologists who were aware of his family’s medical history, particularly that of his uncle, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, who died from brain cancer in 2009.
A New York doctor, after examining a scan of Kennedy’s brain, suggested that his health problems might be due to a “worm that got into his brain and ate a portion of it and then died.” This information was part of the 2012 deposition during Kennedy’s divorce from his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy. Kennedy also stated that these cognitive issues had impacted his ability to earn a living, as reported by the Times.
The New York Times also reported that around the same time, RFK experienced mercury poisoning, which can cause neurological symptoms like loss of peripheral vision, muscle weakness, movement problems, hearing and speech issues, and memory loss. Kennedy told the paper that he has since recovered from the memory loss and brain fog, and that the parasite he mentioned did not require treatment.
Kennedy has also dealt with atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, an irregular heartbeat, for many years. However, he stated to the Times that he hasn’t had symptoms of the condition for over a decade and believes it’s no longer an issue for him.
His campaign declined to share his medical records with the Times. In a statement to CNN, Stefanie Spear, a spokesperson for the Kennedy campaign, explained that he had “traveled extensively in Africa, South America, and Asia” for his work as an environmental advocate, and he contracted a parasite during one of those trips.
“The issue was resolved more than 10 years ago and he is in robust physical and mental health. Questioning Mr. Kennedy’s health is a hilarious suggestion, given his competition,” the campaign said, referring to the advanced ages of the 81-year-old President Joe Biden and 77-year-old former President Donald Trump.
Doctors interviewed by The New York Times suggested that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s condition might have been neurocysticercosis, a disorder caused by the larva of a pork tapeworm. Their speculation was based on what Kennedy described about his symptoms, rather than on examining him directly.
Dr. Clinton White, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, told the Times that it’s unlikely a tapeworm would have literally “eaten” part of Kennedy’s brain. Instead, the tapeworm would have lived off nutrients from his body.
