
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
Authentic Urban areas: Rich Legacy and Lively Societies - 2
Kids with smartphones by age 12 are at higher risk of health issues, study finds - 3
Ukraine to get up to 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets - 4
Over 250,000 cases of shredded cheese recalled over possible metal fragments - 5
Giude to Best Web based Learning Stage
Kremlin: Russian troops conquer Pokrovsk after year of intense combat
Surveys of Thrillers That Re-imagined the Class
Fossil analysis changes what paleontologists know about how long T. rex took to grow full size
Russia Creates New Military Branch Dedicated To Drone Warfare
5 Indoor Plants That Further develop Air Quality
UK to hold fresh pork, other affected Spanish products at border amid African swine fever outbreak
Alleged Huione Group Money Laundering Boss Extradited to China
The 10 Most Progressive Logical Disclosures
Grasping Various Kinds of Local misdemeanors













