
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
Dave Coulier shares new cancer diagnosis 1 year after revealing previous diagnosis - 2
Enormous Credit And All that You Really want To Be aware - 3
Why won't NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts land on the moon when they get there? - 4
Extraordinary Snowboarding Objections All over the Planet - 5
The Most Moving TED Talks You Want to Watch
Humanity is back at the moon! Artemis 2 astronauts arrive in lunar space
Miley Cyrus details her fear of paper, says fiancé Maxx Morando opens their packages outside: 'That's really why I got engaged'
Well known SUVs With Low Energy Utilization In 2024
Cocoa Prices Settle Lower on Expectations of Adequate Supplies
Saturn shines with the waxing moon at sunset on Nov. 29
Vote in favor of Your #1 4\u00d74 SUVs
Early diagnosis leads King Charles to scale back cancer treatment in the new year
A trip to Colombia in my 20s turned into 8 years freelancing in South America. Here's what I'd do differently.
The Solution to Ecological Protection: Saving Nature for People in the future












