
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
New funding transforms lives by expanding electricity access across Africa - 2
Israel kidnaps PIJ terrorist in covert op. in Hamas-controlled Gaza in pursuit of Ran Gvili - 3
Instructions to Keep up with Your Traded Teeth for Life span - 4
Figure out how to Use Your Brain research Degree in the Gig Market - 5
Artemis 2 astronauts arrive at Kennedy Space Center ahead of NASA's historic launch around the moon
UN chief calls on Yemen's Houthi rebels to free all UN detainees
Congress is running out of time to extend ACA subsidies as the GOP moves on to an alternative plan. Here's where things stand.
4 Sound blocking Earphones for Prevalent Sound and Solace
Ukrainian drones hit all three Baltic States − did Russia redirect them?
What to know about the hepatitis B shot — and why Trump officials are targeting it
NASA's SPHEREx telescope completes its 1st cosmic map of the entire sky and it's stunning!
A single shot of HPV vaccine may be enough to fight cervical cancer, study finds
IDF destroys regime's missile, sea mine production site in Yazd amid nationwide airstrikes
Fact Check: Some Bridge Photos Circulating Do NOT Show The Hongqi Bridge That Collapsed In Southwest China Nov. 11, 2025












