Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed in a years-old deposition that doctors told him a parasitic worm had eaten part of his brain before dying in his skull, according to a Tuesday report from the New York Times.
Kennedy made the claim during a deposition that took place as part of his 2012 divorce proceedings. He said he had been experiencing “cognitive problems” and feared he was suffering from a brain tumor.
RFK was scheduled to undergo surgery at the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina when he got a second opinion. The second doctor stated that the shadow inside his brain on scans was in fact a dead parasite, likely a pork tapeworm larva.
According to a transcription of the interview, Kennedy stated that his condition “was caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,” according to the Times.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed in a years-old deposition that doctors told him a parasitic worm had eaten part of his brain before dying in his skull, according to a Tuesday report from the New York Times.
“I have cognitive problems, clearly,” RFK said at the time. “I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me.”
The independent presidential candidate was also diagnosed with mercury poisoning around the same time, which one doctor told the Times was likely the true cause behind RFK’s severe “brain fog.”
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The mercury poisoning arose from a heavy diet of fish, namely tuna sandwiches.
(Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has highlighted his physical fitness in contrast to former President Trump and President Biden.)
RFK’s campaign told the Times he made a full recovery from the brain fog and other symptoms after changing his diet, and he had no aftereffects from the parasite.
When asked whether the history called into question his mental ability, a spokeswoman for the campaign told the outlet, “That is a hilarious suggestion, given the competition.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sought to establish that he is far more physically healthy than both former President Trump, left, and President Biden. (Getty Images)
RFK has highlighted his own physical fitness in contrast with President Biden and former President Trump. The 70-year-old frequently appears on social media being active at the gym and elsewhere.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to [email protected], or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
