Dead worm found in US Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr's head. It had eaten a part of his brain

Robert F. Kennedy Jr is an Independent Presidential candidate in the US elections.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disclosed harrowing details of a health scare involving what he believed to be a brain tumour misdiagnosed as a dead parasite residing in his brain. The 70-year-old, known for his intense campaign efforts across multiple states, unveiled this startling episode during a 2012 divorce proceeding, shedding light on the cognitive struggles that had plagued him for years.

Kennedy's ordeal began with concerning symptoms of memory loss and mental fog, so severe that a friend suspected a brain tumour, akin to the illness that claimed the life of his uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Speaking in a deposition reviewed by The New York Times, Kennedy recounted consultations with top neurologists who initially diagnosed a dark spot on his brain scans as a tumor, scheduling him for surgery at Duke University Medical Center.

However, as Kennedy prepared for the procedure, a call from a New York-Presbyterian Hospital doctor delivered a startling twist: the abnormality was not a tumour but rather a dead parasite. According to Kennedy's testimony, the doctor revealed that a worm had infiltrated his brain, feasting on a portion of it before perishing—a bizarre and unsettling revelation that upended the prior diagnosis.

"I have cognitive problems, clearly," Kennedy affirmed during the deposition, highlighting the extent of his struggles with memory loss and word retrieval. These challenges coincided with elevated mercury levels, attributed to a diet rich in tuna fish sandwiches—an admission that raised questions about the true origins of his neurological issues.

Kennedy's health revelations, including past battles with atrial fibrillation and hepatitis C stemming from youthful heroin use, have sparked speculation about his fitness for the presidency amidst a backdrop of intense campaigning.

Undeterred, Kennedy's campaign spokesperson dismissed concerns about his health impacting his presidential potential, characterising them as laughable given the competition.

In a characteristically candid response, Kennedy himself addressed the matter, tweeting a lighthearted challenge about consuming more "brain worms" and remaining confident in his ability to outshine his presidential rivals, President Biden, 80, and former President Trump, 77.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr is the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated and the son of former attorney general and senator Robert F. Kennedy.