After a lifetime on the front lines of justice, Rev. Jesse Jackson is now facing a different kind of challenge: his health.
The 84-year-old was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, where he’s currently being monitored for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
According to a statement from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which he founded, “Jackson is under observation for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disorder he has managed for more than a decade.”
Jackson was previously diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which was widely known. However, PSP, a much rarer illness, affects motor functions like balance, vision, and the ability to swallow. Its exact cause is still unknown, though age is the most consistent risk factor. In many cases, it is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s, according to News Medical.
Jackson’s contributions span generations. As a trusted aide to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, he became a leading voice in the fight for civil rights. He later launched historic bids for the presidency in 1984 and 1988 and established the Rainbow PUSH Coalition to continue his advocacy for racial and economic equality. In 2023, he stepped down from his leadership role at the organization he helped build, though he is still a beloved fixture within the coalition.
As of Thursday morning, his condition remains unknown.
