
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
Cyber Monday 2025 streaming deal: Get $42 off six months of Apple TV30.11.2025 - 2
6 Famous Urban communities for Shopping on the planet06.06.2024 - 3
The Specialty of Cleaning up: Change Your Space and Brain01.01.1 - 4
German Cabinet advances bill to cut greenhouse emissions from fuels10.12.2025 - 5
Can scientists detect life without knowing what it looks like? Research using machine learning offers a new way12.12.2025
EU states agree first step for Ukraine reparations fund
Nick Reiner's defense attorney asks to be replaced, again delaying arraignment in connection with the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner
FDA updates risk classification for voluntary shredded cheese recall
What's changing about healthcare in 2026 — Medicare, Medicaid, ACA, premiums, and enrollment deadlines
'We were genuinely astonished': This moss survived 9 months outside the International Space Station and could still grow on Earth
Astronomers detect black hole blasting winds at incredible speeds
An 'explosion' of solo-agers are struggling with rising costs and little support: 'I'm flying without a net'
Taste the World: Five Food sources That Have Dazzled Worldwide Palates
My Enterprising Excursion: Building a Startup












