
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
The Best 20 Photography Instagram Records to Follow - 2
Radiated Tortoise Faces Rapid Decline in Madagascar - 3
Instructions to Upgrade the Security Elements of Your Kona SUV - 4
Grasping the Elements of Medical caretaker Pay rates: Factors That Shape Your Pay - 5
Pentagon advances Golden Dome missile defense with new Space Force contracts
Make your choice for a definitive Christmas place to get-away!
IDF struck Iran's largest petrochemical plant, second facility hit in two days, Katz confirms
Hezbollah claims right to respond to killing of top commander
Exploring the Main Year of Life as a parent: Individual Encounters
Is new Harry Styles music on the way? Fans think so, after a cryptic website and posters pop up.
Satellites capture aftermath of Ethiopian volcano's 1st eruption in recorded history (images)
Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies? A biologist explains our lack of fur
As reefs vanish, assisted coral fertilization offers hope in the Dominican Republic
Which Kind of Pet Makes the Incomparable Buddy?












