Mitch McConnell

After Sen. Mitch McConnell was hospitalized in June, new details about his health have been scarce − and it has fueled online conspiracy theories about whether he's even alive.

McConnell, 84, was reported unconscious at his Washington residence last month, prompting an advanced life support response. His office said earlier this month that the former Senate majority leader's health is improving.

In a post to his social media on July 13, McConnell addressed the concerns about his status, saying a fall, which left him "briefly unconscious," landed him in the hospital. He added he's dealing with a "mild case of pneumonia," sharing a photo of himself in a hospital bed. The image led to even more speculation, as many online alleged it was created or altered with artificial intelligence, even after the longtime lawmaker's office confirmed his health was improving.

Experts say it's normal to wonder about a public figure's health, especially a politician who can heavily influence Americans' rights.

"When a highly powerful elected official is observed publicly experiencing a medical issue … it is reasonable to expect public discussion as well as a public response from the leader," Laura Petiford, marriage and family therapist and psychiatric nurse practitioner, previously told USA TODAY.

In general, even if conspiracy theories sound ridiculous, experts say they highlight people's eagerness to make sense of the unknown.

"Human brains like to understand things, and they like to have predictability, and they like to have control over their environment," psychotherapist Stephanie Sarkis previously told USA TODAY. "When you have perceived threats in your environment, a conspiracy theory can help you make sense of your distress."

And when it comes to conspiracy theories, "we are all susceptible," said Dolores Albarracin, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"Because we cannot physically verify many of our beliefs – is the Earth round? – we need to trust sources and documentation. If we trust trustworthy sources, we are generally safe, although all sources are fallible. If we trust untrustworthy ones, we are in danger," Albarracin previously told USA TODAY.

But health speculation can be harmful in some cases, too, experts add.

Public figures, including political leaders, "deserve a certain level of privacy regarding their personal health issues," Brad Fulton, professor of management, data science and philanthropy at the Indiana University Bloomington, previously told USA TODAY.

Plus, in current times, it's easy to ignore the boundaries of others.

"In the age of social media, the general public has become trained to share not only their most private moments, but to also expect others to do the same," psychologist Reneé Carr previously told USA TODAY.

Contributing: Alyssa Goldberg, David Oliver and Charles Trepany, USA TODAY