Sometimes you look at someone particularly politicians who spout some of the most outrageous things and causes you to wonder, “WTF do they have worms on the brain?”
It now seems that in one quite rare circumstance, you may be right. The New York Times has released a quote from a 2017 deposition given by RFK Jr during his divorce proceedings where the 2024 presidential candidate said, “The doctor believed that the abnormality seen on his scans ‘was caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died.’ “
In 2010, Kennedy was experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline. His memory was becoming hazy, and he was walking around in a state of confusion. Brain scans revealed a mysterious patch—possibly a tumor. At first, doctors feared that he, like his uncle Edward Kennedy, was suffering from brain cancer. But then a doctor at New York Presbyterian offered another diagnosis, that the blotch on the scans was, in Kennedy’s words, “caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died.”
The existence of the dead parasite came up during the deposition as RFK Jr. was detailing “cognitive problems” he initially feared were a brain tumor — only for a second doctor to tell him the dark spot on his scans were the remains of the worm.
Kennedy said he did not know when he may have contracted the parasite, but suggested it might have been during an earlier trip to South Asia.
“I have cognitive problems, clearly,” the son of the late attorney general and senator from New York said at the time. “I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me.”
The revelation raised questions about his health as the 70-year-old has presented himself as a youthful alternative to presumed presidential rivals Democrat Joe Biden, 81, and Republican Donald Trump, 77.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, the brain worm survivor said he “plans to take part in the presidential debates” later this year and “meets every threshold to warrant his participation.”
“This week, Mr. Kennedy posted an open letter on X challenging President Trump to a debate while they are both at the Libertarian Convention later this month,” added campaign Press Secretary Stephanie Spear.
The brain worm — who did appear on Saturday Night Live this week, played by Sarah Sherman — could not be reached for comment.