You’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the clips. Maybe you were scrolling through social media and heard that raspy, strained voice and wondered if he was just getting over a cold. Or perhaps you caught a snippet about a "brain worm" and thought it sounded like something out of a sci-fi B-movie. Honestly, when people ask what does RFK have, they usually aren't looking for a political platform. They want to know what’s actually going on with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s health.
It’s a fair question. As the current Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2026, his physical well-being is more than just tabloid fodder; it’s a matter of public interest. There’s a lot of noise out there, so let’s strip away the campaign rhetoric and look at the actual medical diagnoses he’s confirmed over the years.
The Voice: What Does RFK Have Specifically?
That distinct, quivering sound in his voice isn’t from age, and it’s not a permanent case of laryngitis. Since 1996, Kennedy has lived with spasmodic dysphonia.
Basically, it’s a rare neurological disorder. It isn’t fatal, but it is incredibly frustrating for someone whose entire career depends on public speaking. What happens is that the brain sends faulty signals to the larynx (your voice box), causing the muscles to spasm. For RFK Jr., it’s the "adductor" type, meaning his vocal folds slam shut when they should stay open. That’s why he often sounds like he’s pushing words out through a tight squeeze.
He’s been pretty blunt about it. He once told the Los Angeles Times that he "can't stand" the sound of his own voice and feels bad for the people who have to listen to him. Kinda heartbreaking if you think about it.
How it’s treated
There isn’t a "cure" in the traditional sense. Most people with this condition—including Kennedy—rely on Botox injections. Yeah, the same stuff used for wrinkles. Doctors inject it directly into the vocal cord muscles to weaken them slightly, which stops the spasms from being so violent. It lasts a few months, then you have to go back. He has also explored surgical options, like selective laryngeal adductor denervation-reinnervation (SLAD-R), which sounds terrifying but is basically just rerouting nerves to try and calm the system down.
The "Brain Worm" and Memory Loss
This is the one that really set the internet on fire. Back in 2012, during some pretty messy divorce proceedings, a deposition surfaced where Kennedy claimed a parasite had "eaten" part of his brain.
Let’s be clear: parasites don’t actually eat brain tissue like a zombie in a movie.
What likely happened—and what medical experts eventually concluded—was a case of neurocysticercosis. This usually happens when you ingest the microscopic eggs of a pork tapeworm (Taenia solium). These eggs hatch, and the larvae can travel to the brain, where they form a tiny cyst.
Why did he think it was a tumor?
At first, he did. In 2010, he was experiencing severe "brain fog" and short-term memory loss. Doctors saw a dark spot on his MRI and feared the worst. It wasn't until a follow-up that a physician realized the spot was actually a dead parasite. When the worm dies, it often triggers an inflammatory response from the immune system, which is what causes the neurological symptoms like confusion or seizures.
Kennedy says the issue resolved itself over a decade ago without surgery. He’s joked about it since, even tweeting that he’d "eat five more brain worms" and still win a debate. It makes for a wild headline, but medically, it’s a closed chapter.
Mercury Poisoning: The Fish Connection
Around the same time as the parasite scare, Kennedy was diagnosed with significant mercury poisoning.
He’s been very open about the cause: a massive intake of tuna fish. "I loved tuna fish sandwiches," he told the New York Times. "I ate them all the time."
Mercury is a heavy metal that builds up in large predatory fish. If you eat enough of it, it becomes a neurotoxin. For Kennedy, his blood levels were reportedly ten times higher than what the EPA considers safe. This led to more cognitive issues, specifically trouble with memory and focus.
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Unlike the parasite, this required a major lifestyle shift. He had to cut the fish out of his diet and undergo chelation therapy—a medical process where you take medication that binds to heavy metals so your body can flush them out. Today, he claims to be fully recovered, though he remains a fierce critic of mercury in all forms, including its historical use in vaccines.
Managing Health in 2026
It’s interesting to see how his personal health struggles have colored his work at HHS. His "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative, which is a huge part of the 2026 policy landscape, focuses heavily on the "toxic load" of the American environment.
- Food Dyes and Additives: He’s currently pushing to ban certain artificial dyes (like Red 40) that he believes contribute to neurodevelopmental issues.
- Processed Foods: There’s a major push to revise the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines to move away from "ultra-processed" garbage and back to whole foods.
- Soil Health: He frequently links the rise in chronic disease to the way we farm, arguing that depleted soil leads to depleted humans.
Is he actually healthy now?
To look at him, he’s in remarkably good shape for a man in his 70s. He’s often seen doing shirtless workouts or hiking. While the spasmodic dysphonia is a permanent fixture—you can still hear it in every speech—his cognitive health appears stable compared to the 2010 era.
There’s a lot of debate about his medical theories, but when it comes to the question of what does RFK have, the answer is a mix of a rare neurological voice disorder and a history of environmental toxicity that he managed to overcome through diet and specialized treatment.
Actionable Insights for You
If you’re worried about similar issues or just want to stay ahead of the curve, here’s what we can learn from the "Kennedy Health Saga":
- Watch the Tuna: If you eat a lot of "top of the food chain" fish (tuna, swordfish, king mackerel), consider getting your mercury levels checked. Stick to smaller fish like sardines or wild salmon to keep the toxic load down.
- Listen to Your Voice: If you have persistent hoarseness that lasts more than three weeks, don't just "rest it." See an ENT. Spasmodic dysphonia is rare, but muscle tension dysphonia is common and treatable.
- Brain Fog Isn't "Normal": If you’re experiencing sudden memory loss or confusion, it’s not just "getting older." Whether it's a parasite, a vitamin deficiency, or heavy metals, these things are often reversible if caught early.
- Hygiene Matters: Neurocysticercosis is often contracted through poor hand hygiene or contaminated water during international travel. Wash your hands and be careful with "street food" in areas with poor sanitation.
RFK Jr.’s medical history is a strange map of rare conditions and environmental hazards. Whether you agree with his politics or not, his transparency about these issues has certainly put a spotlight on how the environment impacts our brains and bodies.