
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
No more attempts to free whale stranded off Germany, officials say - 2
Aluminum salts emerge as likely target as health officials scrutinize childhood vaccines - 3
UN rights chief: Israel's new Gaza aid agency rules 'outrageous' - 4
Looter indicted after pretending to be emergency worker at Dimona rocket crash site - 5
Electric discovery on Mars! Scientists find tiny lightning bolts coming from Red Planet dust clouds
Famous Restroom Beautifying Styles For 2024
Ancient mass grave discovered in water cistern during Tel Azekah excavations
Home Machine Basics: An Exhaustive Purchasing Guide
Defence chiefs of Thailand and Cambodia to discuss ceasefire
Instructions to Shield Your Gold Speculation from Possible Dangers: Fundamental Protections
Research institutions tout the value of scholarship that crosses disciplines – but academia pushes interdisciplinary researchers out
NASA astronauts to return from space early due to an 'unexpected medical issue.' What happened — and when are they coming home?
A volcanic eruption may have catalyzed the plague's arrival in Europe, study suggests
Building an Individual Brand: Illustrations from Forces to be reckoned with













