
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
Burger King launches 'SpongeBob' menu ahead of film's release. A look at the Bikini Bottom-inspired meal, plus what taste testers are saying. - 2
Europe's powerful Ariane 6 rocket launches Sentinel-1D Earth-observation satellite to orbit (video) - 3
Excursion to Different Universes: the Top Sci-fi Motion pictures Ever - 4
Figure out How to Track and Anticipate Future Cd Rates - 5
Manual for Brilliant Home Lighting Framework: Lights up Your Space
Top 20 Wellbeing and Wellness Applications for a Sound Way of life
DEA seizes 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills in Colorado storage unit
Lula’s former human rights minister formally accused of sexual misconduct
Investigation reveals sperm donor passed on cancer risk to dozens of children across Europe
New images reveal interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS approaching Earth
College students are now slightly less likely to experience severe depression, research shows – but the mental health crisis is far from over
IDF, police arrest eleven for criminal, terror-related activity over weekend
The Solution to Flexibility: Developing Internal Fortitude Notwithstanding Misfortune
This widow influencer is using jokes to cope after her husband's death. It's OK if people don't get it.











