how did rfk get a brain worm

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got a brain worm infection in 2010, caused by a parasitic worm that entered his brain and then died. Initially, doctors thought he had a brain tumor, but after further review of brain imaging, a doctor concluded it was a parasite, likely a pork tapeworm larva (Taenia solium) — a parasite quite common in regions like India, Africa, South America, and Asia where Kennedy had traveled extensively. The worm caused neurological symptoms like brain fog, memory loss, and difficulty with word retrieval. The worm did not literally "eat" his brain but likely caused damage through inflammation as it was living in his brain tissue and then died. This infection is known as neurocysticercosis, caused by the larvae of the pork tapeworm, which infects humans primarily through contact with contaminated fecal matter or undercooked pork. Kennedy's case was a notable example of this condition, which is treatable and more common than generally known in low- income countries and travelers to such areas.