Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized for PSP Symptoms

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson was hospitalized in Chicago on Wednesday evening due to symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurodegenerative disorder he has been managing for more than a decade. The 84-year-old activist, a longtime advocate for racial and economic justice, is under observation at a local medical center, according to a statement from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the organization he founded.

The coalition confirmed that Jackson was initially diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015 but received a definitive PSP diagnosis in April. Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain condition caused by the accumulation of tau protein, which damages nerve cells and leads to progressive difficulties with balance, walking, eye movements, swallowing and speech. Unlike Parkinson's, PSP typically advances more rapidly, often resulting in significant disability within a few years of onset. The organization provided no additional details on Jackson's current treatment or expected discharge.

"The family appreciates all prayers at this time," the statement read, emphasizing the private nature of the health update. Jackson's son, former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson...