Rev. Jesse Jackson was hospitalized in Chicago, with the 84-year-old under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative condition he has been managing for over a decade. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his PSP condition was confirmed last April, according to the Rainbow Push Coalition. The organization stated that the family appreciates all prayers at this time.

PSP is a rare neurological disorder affecting body movements, walking, balance, and eye movements, according to the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The disease typically begins in a person’s 60s and has some symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, with most people developing severe disability within three to five years.
Jackson rose to national prominence in the 1960s and spent over six decades advocating for racial equality, economic justice, and voter rights. In 1971, he founded Operation Push to improve Black communities’ economic conditions across the US. Jesse Jackson Jr. stated that his father’s condition had improved since hospitalization, expressing gratitude for prayers over the last 24 hours. He noted that his father has lived beyond the life expectancy associated with this disease and continues to put up a valiant struggle against PSP, which has no cure.