
The Rev. Jesse Jackson was hospitalized on Wednesday and is under observation for a neurodegenerative condition, his organization, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, said in a statement.
Jackson, 84, has been managing the condition, called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), for over a decade, according to the organization he founded.
“He was originally diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; however, last April, his PSP condition was confirmed,” the organization said. “The family appreciates all prayers at this time.”
The disorder damages certain areas of the brain and affects a person’s walking, swallowing, balance and eye movements, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition worsens over time and can lead to dangerous complications, including trouble swallowing and pneumonia.
The disease typically affects people over the age of 60, and symptoms can mimic those of Parkinson’s.
There is no cure for the disease, but treatment options to help with symptoms include physical and occupational therapy, Botox, antidepressants, eyeglasses with prism or bifocal lenses, and Parkinson’s disease medications.
In a 2017 statement following news of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Jackson said that his family began noticing symptoms three years prior and that his father also had the disease.
Jackson became a civil rights icon in the 1960s, participating in marches alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and playing a pivotal role in movements for equality and justice. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Bill Clinton in August 2000.
Jackson founded the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984. It merged with Operation PUSH in September 1996 to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
LATEST POSTS
- 1
4 injured in shooting at North Carolina tree lighting ceremony - 2
'War is not over': Detailed diagrams of prisons found in cells of Oct. 7 terrorists - 3
Gartex Texprocess India to showcase innovations across textile ecosystem - 4
From invasive species tracking to water security – what’s lost with federal funding cuts at US Climate Adaptation Science Centers - 5
Turkiye’s Erdogan calls Israel’s Somaliland recognition ‘unacceptable’
Vote In favor of Your Favored Occasion Arranging Administration
Obamacare enrollment declines as US subsidies expire
In a scientific first, biologists recorded a wild wolf potentially using tools
Gen Z workplace stereotypes were TV’s favorite punchline in 2025
Exploring Programming Greatness: A Survey of \Easy to use Connection points\
Exploiting Unsold Rams: May Be Less expensive Than You Suspect
Why is Jerome Powell being investigated? Making sense of the DOJ's probe into the Federal Reserve chair.
Hamas demanded displaced Gazans pay rent on beach tents amid torrential downpour, IDF reveals
PHOTO ESSAY: Summer camp for kids with autoimmune diseases













