
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
Attorney-General to High Court: Gov’t violating draft ruling, risking rule of law12.01.2026 - 2
Shah Capital pushes for Novavax sale, warns of proxy fight12.11.2025 - 3
'Israel has the right to continue its attacks,' Lebanese Foreign Minister announces14.01.2026 - 4
Intriguing Strange Cruising Objections you Should Visit06.06.2024 - 5
The German series proving subtitles can be sexy — and wildly addictive26.11.2025
The Craft of Do-It-Yourself Home Stylistic layout: Change Your Space
Revealing the Incomparable Realms: An Excursion through Power and Inheritance
IDF carried out mission to locate former hostage Avera Mengistu a day before Oct. 7
Striking American and European television Projects: A Survey
Blue Origin launches New Glenn rocket on company's first NASA-scale science mission
Hubble Space Telescope spies dusty debris from two cosmic collisions
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' trailer: See Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon and Tom Holland in 1st look at movie
Winter storms blanket the East, while the U.S. West is wondering: Where’s the snow?
California officials warn against foraging wild mushrooms after deadly poisoning outbreak













