Brain Worms

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Brain Worms

The New York Times earlier this week unveiled a surprising disclosure made by Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a 2012 deposition. Kennedy mentioned an incident where he described having had a parasitic infection in his brain. "A worm got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died." This depiction lacked specificity and could pertain to several parasitic diseases, including angiostrongyliasis, baylisascariasis, toxocariasis, strongyloidiasis, and trichinosis. However, some experts swiftly speculated that the condition might align with neurocysticercosis (NCC), a condition in which larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium infiltrated the brain.

Despite the notion of literal brain worms evoking fear or even dark humor, NCC does not entail actual brain consumption or conventional worms. Instead, the culprit is a tapeworm, a type of helminth, commonly found in pigs. According to Laila Woc-Colburn, an infectious disease physician at Emory University, NCC stands as "the most common" parasitic infection affecting the brain globally and is a leading cause of epilepsy in adults.

NCC typically initiates after individuals are exposed to feces containing the eggs of a pork tapeworm, often through activities such as working on a pig farm or handling contaminated, uncooked food. After ingestion, the eggs hatch into larvae in the intestines. Since humans are not the intended host for these tapeworms, the larvae migrate through the body in search of pig muscle. Some larvae eventually reach the brain, where they form cysts in an attempt to mature. However, unable to complete their life cycle, they die, leaving behind calcified remnants.

While millions worldwide may suffer from NCC, it is relatively rare in the United States, with most cases linked to travel or immigration. Woc-Colburn notes that it is primarily a disease of poverty. Nonetheless, NCC is preventable through proper hand hygiene and is easily diagnosed in the U.S., particularly with access to CT scans and a patient's exposure history. Treatment typically involves antiparasitic medication, and if caught early, the infection is not expected to cause lasting damage.

Although it's uncertain whether Kennedy indeed had NCC, his reported neurological symptoms in 2010 and an unusual brain scan anomaly suggest a possibility. However, it's worth noting that other parasites could also have invaded his brain. Nonetheless, the chances of contracting NCC in the U.S. are low. Despite this, the disclosure of Kennedy's condition may lead to an influx of concerned individuals at clinics, though many may not actually be affected.

While NCC is relatively uncommon in the U.S., individuals concerned about brain infections should be wary of Naegleria fowleri, a rare amoeba found in warm bodies of water, which can indeed cause brain damage.