
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
German police 'cleared path for fascists with batons,' protesters say - 2
New COVID-19 variant 'Cicada' is spreading. What to know about BA.3.2. - 3
Find the Mysteries of Effective Objective Setting: Transforming Dreams into Feasible Targets - 4
5 Language Learning Applications - 5
Hungary's 'water guardian' farmers fight back against desertification
Find the Lively Food Markets of South America
What happened to Eleven after the ambiguous 'Stranger Things' series finale? Millie Bobby Brown knows — but 'swore herself to secrecy'
Instructions to Guarantee Kids Foster Solid Dental Propensities
Rediscovering Imagination in Adulthood: Individual Creative Excursions
More people are addicted to marijuana, but fewer of them are seeking help, experts say
Conquering Social Generalizations: Individual Accounts of Strengthening
Free Fuel Giveaway Sparks Traffic Mayhem Before Police Shut It Down
Dominating Capable Mastercard Utilization: Key Contemplations
What's an atmospheric river? AP explains the weather phenomenon













