CNN
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Impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. skilled a collection of well being points lately, together with an abnormality that he stated was attributable to a worm that entered his mind after which died, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
In 2010, Kennedy, now 70, skilled extreme reminiscence loss and psychological fog, he stated in a deposition two years later. Based on the Instances, he consulted high neurologists acquainted with the medical historical past of his uncle, the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, who had died of mind most cancers in 2009. A New York physician, after reviewing a scan of his mind, informed him that his well being points might be “attributable to a worm that bought into my mind and ate a portion of it after which died,” Kennedy stated within the 2012 deposition, which involved a divorce from his second spouse, Mary Richardson Kennedy. Robert Kennedy stated on the time that his incomes energy had been negatively affected by the cognitive points, the Instances reported.
Across the identical time, the Instances stated, he suffered from mercury poisoning, which may result in neurological points reminiscent of lack of peripheral imaginative and prescient, muscle weak spot and points with motion, listening to and speech, in addition to reminiscence loss. Kennedy informed the paper he has recovered from the reminiscence loss and mind fogginess and that the parasite didn’t require therapy.
As well as, he has grappled for many years with atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, an irregular heartbeat. He informed the Instances it has been greater than a decade since he skilled the situation and stated he believes he now not suffers from it.
Kennedy’s marketing campaign declined to supply his medical information to the Instances. In an announcement to CNN, Stefanie Spear, a spokesperson for Kennedy’s marketing campaign, stated he had “traveled extensively in Africa, South America and Asia” as a part of his work as an environmental advocate and stated he contracted a parasite in a type of journeys.
“The problem was resolved greater than 10 years in the past and he’s in sturdy bodily and psychological well being. Questioning Mr. Kennedy’s well being is a hilarious suggestion, given his competitors,” the marketing campaign stated, referring to the superior ages of the 81-year-old President Joe Biden and 77-year-old former President Donald Trump.
Docs interviewed by The New York Instances — who based mostly their hypothesis upon what Kennedy stated he skilled, not first-hand statement of his bodily state — steered his situation, often known as neurocysticercosis, might have been attributable to a pork tapeworm larva. As Dr. Clinton White, a professor of infectious ailments on the College of Texas Medical Department in Galveston, defined to the Instances, it’s unlikely {that a} tapeworm would have “eaten” a part of Kennedy’s mind however as an alternative would have survived on vitamins from the physique.
Neurocysticercosis may cause seizures, complications and dizziness, the Instances’ report stated, although it famous that reminiscence loss is extra typically related to mercury poisoning. Kennedy informed the paper that on the time he stated he was recognized with mercury poisoning, he was consuming excessive portions of tuna and perch.
Kennedy stated he modified his life-style following these well being episodes, together with getting extra sleep, touring much less, decreasing his fish consumption and present process chelation remedy that seeks to expel metals within the physique.
On the marketing campaign path, Kennedy has portrayed himself as vibrant and youthful in comparison with Biden and Trump, partaking in strenuous actions like snowboarding and weightlifting.
Kennedy’s views on private well being, together with his long-held skepticism of sure vaccines, have been a particular characteristic of his public picture. He has disputed solutions that he’s “anti-vaccine,” although he’s the founding father of the Kids’s Well being Protection, a gaggle that has been accused of spreading falsehoods about vaccines.