Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed that doctors once believed he had a dead parasite in his brain, a condition that can be caused by ingesting tapeworm eggs. Kennedy mentioned this during a deposition over a decade ago, where he described his doctors finding a cyst in his brain that experts believed matched up with a pork tapeworm larva. The exact cause of his condition is not clear, but tapeworm infections can occur when the eggs or larvae are ingested through contaminated food, water, or surfaces.
Pork tapeworms can develop in the intestines as a mild condition called taeniasis, but they can also lead to cysts developing in other tissues in the body, known as cysticercosis. When cysts are found in the brain, it is called neurocysticercosis, which can cause severe symptoms such as headaches, blindness, seizures, and even death. However, cysticercosis is not usually fatal as symptoms develop when the cysts die and are attacked by the immune system. The infection cannot be spread directly between people, but contaminated individuals can potentially spread the eggs to others if proper hygiene is not practiced.
Neurocysticercosis is the most common preventable cause of epilepsy worldwide, with pork tapeworms being responsible for a significant percentage of epilepsy cases in high-risk communities where the parasite is endemic. Kennedy mentioned that he believed he may have contracted the parasite while in South Korea, where he thought the worm ate part of his brain before dying. Medical experts stated that tapeworms do not typically feed on the brain but instead live off nutrients. Most cases of neurocysticercosis in the U.S. occur in individuals from regions where the disease is more common, such as Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
In the U.S., around 1,000 new hospitalizations occur from neurocysticercosis each year, with cases being more commonly reported in states like New York, California, Texas, Oregon, and Illinois. Globally, an estimated 2.7 million people are living with cysticercosis, indicating the widespread reach of this infection. Diagnosis of cysticercosis can be done through blood tests or imaging methods, with treatment typically involving a combination of anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, surgery may be necessary depending on the severity of the infection.
Cases of cysticercosis are more frequently reported in rural areas of developing countries where pigs come into contact with human feces and can ingest the tapeworm eggs. While the infection is more common in regions where pigs roam freely and are exposed to contaminated environments, cases can still occur in places where pigs are not prevalent. It is important for individuals to practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of tapeworm eggs and reduce the risk of infection. Kennedy’s revelation about his potential tapeworm infection sheds light on the rare but serious consequences of parasitic infections and the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment.