
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
Israel's haredi draft crisis: Court ruling and political stalemate reach breaking point - 2
What is a Trump Gold Card? U.S. launches $1 million immigration visas - 3
Hundreds of Intact Dinosaur Eggs Emerge From 72-Million-Year Time Capsule - 4
Vote in favor of your Number one kind of juice - 5
IDF, police arrest eleven for criminal, terror-related activity over weekend
It's been 20 years since MTV's golden couple split. These producers saw it all unravel.
If evolution is real, then why isn’t it happening now? An anthropologist explains that humans actually are still evolving
Scientists train to dive beneath polar ice as climate change warms the Arctic and Antarctica
Would you ever turn to AI for companionship? 6% of Americans say they could — or already have.
The Best 20 Tunes that Characterized an Age
A decade after Brazil’s deadly dam collapse, Indigenous peoples demand justice on the eve of COP30
'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot releases 1st trailer, reuniting Frankie Muniz and Bryan Cranston: Watch here
I'm a hypnotherapist who helps day traders who are losing money. Here's why I think hypnosis works.
Step by step instructions to Contrast Lab Precious stones and Normal Jewels













