
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
Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) breaks apart in incredible telescope photos - 2
Bolsonaro says hallucinatory effects of meds made him tamper with ankle tag - 3
Looking for under-the-radar adventures? Try Norway's Vesterålen - 4
The Solution to Individual budget: Dominating Cash The board - 5
The pace of hiring just fell to the lowest since 2011, outside of the pandemic
Kaiser Permanente affiliates to pay $556 million to resolve US claims alleging Medicare fraud
What are parents to do as doctors clash with Trump administration over vaccines?
2 new malaria treatments announced as drug resistance grows
5 Critical Rules For Business Regulation Chiefs
Manual for Wonderful Getaway destination
NATO needs Ukraine's 'adaptation DNA' and an 'HOV lane' for new war tech, top commander says
'All's Fair,' Ryan Murphy's new show starring Kim Kardashian, hit with scathing reviews: 'A girlboss fever dream'
Scientists solve the mystery of 'impossible' merger of 'forbidden' black holes
Under pressure at home, Belgium's leader treads a tight rope with EU partners over funds for Ukraine












