2024-05-09 10:59:25
Years ago, presidential candidate Kennedy suffered from memory lapses. The possible reason, as he says: a worm in the brain.
Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr., who is running as an independent presidential candidate against Donald Trump and Joe Biden, has had repeated health problems in the past – including an alleged worm infestation in his head, as the “New York Times” reports.
In 2010, Kennedy had problems with memory lapses and confusion, the newspaper quoted from files that were said to come from the time of his divorce from his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy. He visited a number of doctors who had already treated the brain tumor of his uncle, former US Senator Ted Kennedy.
Expert: Worm doesn’t eat brains
One of the doctors explained to him that, Kennedy said in the files, “a worm may have entered my brain, eaten part of it and then died.” In the divorce papers, Kennedy stated that his health was impaired during this time and that he was able to earn less money.
But is that even possible? Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease expert, told CNN that this explanation suggests an infection with the parasitic pork tapeworm. This can cause inflammation in the brain – even if they die there. Because then dangerous cysts could form at this point. The worms wouldn’t eat brains – they extract nutrients from the body in other ways.
Campaign team speaks of “parasite”
But Hotez also points to another possible cause of RFK Jr.’s memory problems: In the early 2010s, Kennedy was also said to have suffered from mercury poisoning, which can cause symptoms similar to a pork tapeworm infection. That would fit with Kennedy’s diet: At the time, he said he ate a lot of fish, especially tuna and perch. Both fish are known to be contaminated with high amounts of mercury.
Kennedy’s campaign team did not confirm the tapeworm or mercury diagnosis, but told CNN that Kennedy had traveled extensively at the time – including to Africa, South America and Asia. He also contracted “a parasite.” The 70-year-old himself told the New York Times that he had overcome his health problems.