The Rev. Jesse Jackson arrives to hear U.S. President Joe Biden speak at the Old Post Office in Chicago on June 28, 2023. Jackson’s family gave an update on his health Sunday, saying reports that he was on life support were inaccurate. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
The family of the Rev. Jesse Jackson said the civil rights activist was in stable condition after being hospitalized in Chicago for a rare neurological condition.
The family provided the update Sunday in response to what they described as “inaccurate media reports.”
“Reverend Jackson is in stable condition and is breathing without the assistance of machines,” said the statement, which was posted on the website of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the civil rights organization Jackson founded.
“Contrary to specific reports, he is not on life support.”
Jesse Jackson’s son, Yusef Jackson, said, “in fact, today he called for 2,000 churches to prepare 2,000 baskets of food to prevent malnutrition during the holiday season.”
The Jackson family announced last week that the 84-year-old was admitted to the hospital to be observed for his condition, progressive supranuclear palsy.
The statement said he had been managing the condition for more than a decade, though it was initially diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. In April, doctors confirmed he was actually dealing with PSP.
Jesse Jackson revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in November 2017, telling his supporters he found it “increasingly difficult to perform routine tasks” and to get around in his daily life.
PSP is a rare neurological condition that gets worse over time and for which there is no cure. It often mimics Parkinson’s disease, particularly early on, and is often misdiagnosed, the Cleveland Clinic says.
There are four types of PSP with various symptoms, among them: troubles with walking and balance; abnormal speech; memory and cognitive problems; difficulty with eye movement; and tremor.
The Cleveland Clinic says about 1 in 100,000 people get diagnosed with PSP each year, and 1 in 20,000 people have the disease.
