Quick Hit:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted in a 2012 deposition that a worm had eaten part of his brain and then died inside his head, according to a report by The New York Times. 

Key Details:

• RFK Jr. made the unusual admission during a deposition for his 2012 divorce proceedings.
• He began experiencing cognitive problems and memory loss in 2010, admitting in the deposition two years later, “I have cognitive problems, clearly.”
• Upon seeing a New York doctor regarding his cognitive problems, he was ultimately informed that the issues were likely “caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,” Kennedy said in his deposition.

Diving Deeper:

The New York Times report indicates that Kennedy made the startling revelation during his 2012 divorce deposition. He reportedly began experiencing cognitive issues and both short and long-term memory loss in 2010, shortly after the death of his uncle, Senator Edward Kennedy, from brain cancer. Initially, Kennedy feared he had a brain tumor, but a second opinion from a New York doctor revealed a different cause. The doctor informed Kennedy that a dark spot on his brain scans was due to a dead parasite. Kennedy testified that the doctor told him the parasite had eaten a part of his brain before dying.

In addition to the brain parasite, Kennedy also admitted to suffering from mercury poisoning, which he believes was caused by his frequent consumption of tuna fish sandwiches. 

However, Kennedy's health history is not without other complications. The anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist has openly discussed his past struggles with drug addiction. As he continues to navigate his political and activist roles, these revelations about his health are likely to draw further scrutiny.

“Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED.