
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 Job of a Land Legal counselor in Property Exchanges - 2
Is Trump going to war with Venezuela? - 3
Private sector revives the climate disaster database Trump tried to squash - 4
California is completely free of drought for the first time in 25 years - 5
New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash: How to watch the star-studded country music special live
Down to earth Manual for A Modest Hyundai Ioniq Electric for Seniors
Embrace Effortlessness: Moderation and Cleaning up Tips
The Most Important Crossroads in Olympic History
Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change
Highlight Correlation of Microsoft Surface Book and Surface Genius Workstations for Determination
The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks tonight, but will the full 'Wolf Moon' outshine the show?
Step by step instructions to Protect Your Speculations with Cd Rates
How Mars' ancient lakes grew shields of ice to stay warm as the Red Planet froze
Father and son spending Christmas together after health scares












