Independent US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has revealed shocking details about his health, disclosing that a worm once ate a portion of his brain.
The 70-year-old US presidential candidate made this revelation during a 2012 interview, known as a deposition, as part of his divorce proceedings from his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy. Kennedy cited cognitive issues that diminished his earning power at the time.
Kennedy explained that in 2010, he started experiencing memory loss and mental fogginess, leading him to seek advice from neurologists. They identified a dark spot on his brain scans, initially diagnosing it as a tumor.
However, another doctor proposed a different diagnosis, suggesting it was a dead parasite in his brain that had caused the abnormality.
Impact on Cognitive Abilities
During the deposition, Kennedy admitted, “I have cognitive problems, clearly. I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me.”
He also disclosed being diagnosed with mercury poisoning, attributing it to his diet that included a significant amount of tuna, which is known to contain higher levels of mercury.
US presidential candidate Kennedy’s mercury levels were found to be ten times higher than the EPA’s safe levels. Following these health scares, he made lifestyle changes, including getting more sleep and reducing his fish intake.
Fortunately, he claimed to have recovered from the memory loss and fogginess without any lasting effects from the parasite, which did not require treatment.
While doctors have cautioned that both parasitic infections and mercury poisoning can sometimes lead to permanent brain damage, Kennedy stated that he experienced no lasting effects.
Despite these health issues, US Presidential Candidate Kennedy’s campaign spokesperson dismissed concerns about his fitness for the presidency, calling it a “hilarious suggestion” given the competition.
Kennedy, along with two other third-party candidates, philosopher Cornel West, 70, and physician Jill Stein, 73, is running against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, 81, and Republican candidate Donald Trump, 77, in the upcoming presidential race.
In national polls, Kennedy currently polls at around 10%, compared to 41% for Trump and 40% for Biden.
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