RFK Jr. says he had a brain worm and mercury poisoning
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate running for president, made headlines when his campaign confirmed that he had contracted a parasite in his brain over a decade ago. This revelation came after The New York Times reported his statement in a 2012 deposition where he mentioned a parasitic worm had “ate a portion” of his brain, potentially causing cognitive issues.
Stefanie Spear, the spokesperson for Kennedy’s campaign, stated in a response to CBS News that he acquired the parasite during his extensive travels in Africa, South America, and Asia while working as an environmental advocate. The issue was resolved more than 10 years ago, and Spear assured the public of Kennedy’s robust physical and mental health, dismissing any concerns about his well-being in the current race.
According to reports from The Times during his 2012 deposition amidst his divorce proceedings with Mary Richardson Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed facing cognitive problems, memory loss, and brain fog. One doctor even suggested that he had a dead parasite in his brain back in 2010.
Kennedy revealed that a friend, noticing his cognitive struggles, urged him to seek medical help, initially suspecting a brain tumor. While parasitic worms in the brain are a possibility, experts clarify that they do not consume brain tissue as Kennedy implied during his deposition.
Tapeworm infections, also known as neurocysticercosis, can be caused by consuming undercooked pork or contaminated water. Regions with poor sanitation like parts of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia are at higher risk. The tapeworm eggs can travel through the bloodstream and infest various organs, including the brain.
Treatment for tapeworm infection usually involves anti-parasitic medications to eliminate the worms. In some cases, the body’s immune system can clear the dead worm without surgery. Kennedy claimed to have fully recovered from his memory loss and brain fog, with no further complications or lingering effects, and did not mention any treatment for the parasitic condition.
Aside from his parasite ordeal, Kennedy also disclosed during the deposition that he had been diagnosed with mercury poisoning, attributing it to his diet heavy on tuna and other fish. He reported experiencing cognitive issues and memory loss due to the mercury toxicity, which experts say is more commonly linked to memory loss than parasitic worms.
Kennedy’s mercury levels were reportedly ten times higher than the EPA’s safety standards, which he linked to his love for tuna fish sandwiches that he consumed regularly. His activism against vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, stemmed from his concerns about its alleged connection to autism and other medical conditions, despite evidence showing low doses do not cause harm. Excessive mercury intake, however, found in fish, can indeed be toxic.
While both parasitic infections and mercury poisoning can result in long-term brain damage, experts emphasize the possibility of a full recovery. Kennedy’s health challenges, coupled with his environmental advocacy and vaccine-related activism, highlight the complexities of health issues in the public eye.
