Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed that he is living with a dead worm in his brain, which was discovered in 2010. He initially feared he had brain cancer, like his late uncle, but later found out that a parasite had eaten a portion of his brain and died. Kennedy suspects he may have picked up the parasite during a trip to South Asia. The health incident did not require treatment and he no longer experiences memory loss or fogginess related to the incident.
Neurocysticercosis, the condition that Kennedy has, can develop if a person accidentally eats or drinks the larvae of parasites, but it is most commonly caused by a tapeworm known as Taenia solium. The tapeworm is ingested through contaminated meat like pork, and can lead to the formation of cysts in the brain. The infection can remain asymptomatic for many years, but eventually, symptoms such as seizures may occur as the immune system attacks the cyst.
Symptoms of neurocysticercosis typically include seizures, with other effects such as speech or cognitive impairment depending on the location and number of larvae cysts in the brain. The infection is rare in the United States, with around 1,000 new hospitalizations reported each year. Globally, tapeworm infections are a major problem, particularly in areas where people and pigs live in close proximity. Good hand hygiene and safe food practices can help prevent the infection.
Treatment for neurocysticercosis depends on when the infection is discovered and the location of the cysts in the brain. In some cases, surgical removal may be necessary if the cyst is causing life-threatening brain swelling. If the infection is in its active phase, antiparasitic medication is used to kill the worm. However, if the worm has already been destroyed by the immune system and calcified, leaving a scar in the brain, there may not be any further complications and no further treatment required.
The condition is not commonly seen in travelers, as it is rare for people to come back from endemic areas with the infection due to access to clean water and proper food handling practices. The World Health Organization estimates that tapeworms are responsible for about 30% of epilepsy cases in endemic areas. Overall, neurocysticercosis is a rare but serious condition that requires proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications.
