
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
80 km. on foot: Sharren Haskel’s three-day march in protest of haredi draft bill - 2
This is Countdown, CNN’s newsletter covering NASA’s first time sending humans to deep space in over 50 years - 3
Best Getaway destination: Ocean side, Mountain, or City - 4
Top Frozen yogurt Flavor: Cast Your Vote! - 5
US FDA unveils new pathway to approve personalized therapies
Infants will no longer receive hepatitis B vaccine at birth, CDC announces
Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis join Iran in strike on Israel
Instructions to Redo Your Kona SUV for Improved Tasteful Allure and Usefulness
Vote In favor of Your Favored Cereal
Watch Rocket Lab launch Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite to orbit tonight
6 Exemplary Mexican Dishes
Bitcoin momentum builds in Abu Dhabi as global interest surges
'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Season 3 premieres tomorrow. Here's what you need to know to catch up.
Zelensky confidant dismissed from further posts amid bribery scandal












