
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
Toddler given just 3 years to live after strange symptoms makes full recovery
If someone's always late, is it time blindness, or are they just being rude?
Was This Driver Simply Having Some good times Or Behaving Like An Ass?
Step by step instructions to Open a Lovely Waterway Voyage Insight: Conveniences, Administrations, and Elite Offers
He walked on the moon in 1972. This is his advice for the Artemis II astronauts.
Four Dead in Last Month From Animal Attacks in Nepal
5 Different ways Macintosh is Prepared to Overwhelm Gaming, Even Against Windows
Incredible Travel Objections for Craftsmanship Darlings to Visit
'Pluribus' release date: Everything you need to know about the new series from 'Better Call Saul's' co-creator












