
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
Turning into a Distributed Writer: My Composing Process - 2
'Home Alone' actor Joe Pesci said 'no' to this stunt until he saw a 9-year-old girl do it, says director Chris Columbus - 3
3 astronauts settle into their new life in orbit | On the International Space Station this week Dec. 1-5, 2025 - 4
When a sperm whale gives birth, the mother gets help from her friends - 5
6 Exemplary Mexican Dishes
Fundamental Home Exercise center Hardware: Amplify Your Exercises
Shredded cheese recall: Multiple brands sold at Aldi, Target and Walmart affected over potential metal fragment contamination
Gulf countries roll out more autonomous taxis
How will the universe end?
What's changing about healthcare in 2026 — Medicare, Medicaid, ACA, premiums, and enrollment deadlines
The Tradition of Stone: A Gander at Notable Structures Through the Ages
How did life begin on Earth? New experiments support 'RNA world' hypothesis
When preventable infections turn deadly behind bars | The Excerpt
Man who grabbed Ariana Grande at 'Wicked: For Good' premiere also rushed Katy Perry onstage this year. Who is he and why is he doing this?










