
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
Florence's Uffizi Gallery moves treasures to safety after cyberattack - 2
The most effective method to Arrange a Higher Medical caretaker Pay During Your Next New employee screening - 3
6 Fledgling Cameras for 2024: Ideal for New Photographic artists - 4
Israel violated ceasefire with Hezbollah more than 10,000 times, UNIFIL claims - 5
Explosions at Burundi ammunition depot kill civilians, witnesses say
UNICEF: More than 100 children killed in Gaza since ceasefire
Dark matter may be made of pieces of giant, exotic objects — and astronomers think they know how to look for them
Dependable Savvy Locks to Update Your Home Security
Netflix is releasing a documentary on Elizabeth Smart. What to know about her kidnapping, rescue and where she is now.
How AI fixed the James Webb Space Telescope's blurry vision
Will your baby get a hep B vaccine? What RFK panel's ruling means.
Sheinelle Jones will cohost fourth hour of 'Today' with Jenna Bush Hager: Here's what to know about her
The Best 10 Innovation Developments of the Year
Pick Your Favored method of transportation











