
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
10 Fundamental Tips and Deceives to Lift Your Cell phone's Exhibition - 2
Jubilant FoodWorks to scrap Dunkin’ franchise arrangement in India - 3
7 Extraordinary Efficiency Applications for Experts - 4
The Fragrant Small Tree Birds & Pollinators Love With Stunning Flowers In Summer - 5
Kansas school officials report high student illness, dismiss early
MacArthur Foundation awards $100M to outbreak surveillance network, a boost amid global health cuts
SpaceX launches Starlink missions in dual-coast spaceflight doubleheader (videos)
Verdicts against social media companies carry consequences. But questions linger
Mosquitoes carrying malaria are evolving more quickly than insecticides can kill them – researchers pinpoint how
The beauty advent calendar boom is here. Sephora kids are all in.
PFAS in pregnant women’s drinking water puts their babies at higher risk, study finds
The Reduced Portage Horse: An Inheritance Reconsidered for Present day Experience
Vote In favor of Your #1 Method for diminishing Pressure
Why Cannes Is the Ultimate New Year’s Eve Destination in the South of France’s Off-Season













