
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
Limited Rain Chances in Brazil Boost Coffee Prices - 2
Israel approves 19 new West Bank settlements in major annexation push - 3
Earth’s magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation, but it can move, and the magnetic poles can even flip - 4
Merz: 80% of Syrians in Germany should return in three years - 5
Scientists solve the mystery of 'impossible' merger of 'forbidden' black holes
Nine in 10 German industrial firms expect Iran war to hit business
Nigeria warns its citizens in South Africa to be cautious after march turns violent
What we know about Renee Nicole Good, the woman who was killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis
More loons are filling Maine's lakes with their ghostlike calls
Best Pizza Beating: What's Your #1?
Israel strikes Iranian nuclear development facilities, Tehran vows retaliation
What we know about Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis
FDA adds strongest warning to Sarepta gene therapy linked to 2 patient deaths
I asked ChatGPT who would win a Golden Globes. Here's what it got right — and totally wrong.












