Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recounted in a years-old deposition that doctors once told him a parasitic worm had invaded part of his brain before dying, as reported by The New York Times on Tuesday.
The revelation came during a deposition linked to Kennedy’s 2012 divorce proceedings, where he disclosed concerns about cognitive issues and feared he might have a brain tumor.
Kennedy had been slated for brain surgery at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina but sought a second opinion. Another doctor reviewed his scans and identified the anomaly as a dead parasite, likely a larva from a pork tapeworm.
In a transcript of the deposition, Kennedy described the situation as “caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,” according to The Times.
“I have cognitive problems, clearly,” Kennedy remarked during the deposition. “I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me.”
Around the same time, Kennedy received a diagnosis of mercury poisoning, attributed to a heavy consumption of fish, particularly tuna sandwiches. One doctor indicated to The Times that this mercury exposure likely explained Kennedy’s severe “brain fog.”
Kennedy’s campaign informed The Times that he fully recovered from the brain fog and other symptoms by altering his diet and experienced no lingering effects from the parasite.
When asked about the implications for Kennedy’s mental acuity, a spokeswoman for his campaign responded to The Times, stating, “That is a hilarious suggestion, given the competition.”
Kennedy has emphasized his physical fitness, often drawing comparisons with President Biden and former President Trump. The 70-year-old frequently showcases his activities on social media, including workouts at the gym.
