
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
Moon rocket and weather are on NASA's side for the first astronaut launch in decades - 2
Israeli girl suffers cardiac arrest during sirens in Safed, hospitalized in serious condition - 3
Experience Is standing by: 10 Pleasant Setting up camp Areas to - 4
Two IDF officers, civilian face indictment in alleged Gaza aid-truck smuggling scheme - 5
Progress Over Perfection: Lessons From Garment Factories Fighting Heat Stress
Change Your Skincare: 10 Inventive Magnificence Gadgets
Uzbekistan launches €9.46 billion green energy push, covering nation’s power needs
Fascinating Fishing Objections From Around The World
Merz: 80% of Syrians in Germany should return in three years
The Best 20 Photography Instagram Records to Follow
What will the Artemis 2 astronauts eat during their historic moon mission? (video)
Explosions at Burundi ammunition depot kill civilians, witnesses say
Reports: Nepal's former PM arrested over deadly protest crackdown
FDA adds strongest warning to Sarepta gene therapy linked to 2 patient deaths













