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CHICAGO — The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is set to be transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital later today, according to a statement released by his family.
Jackson’s condition is reported to be stable, the family confirmed.
Originally diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 2013, Jackson’s medical diagnosis was updated in April to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurological condition, the family stated.
“We are firm believers in the power of prayer and deeply appreciate the outpouring of support and prayers from the faithful,” said Yusef Jackson, his son and family spokesperson. “Our father is alert and remains committed to his mission of uniting churches and pastors to combat malnutrition. He is actively engaging 2,000 churches and pastors to distribute 2,000 baskets of food, aiming to support four million families this season.”
The esteemed civil rights leader was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, as reported by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
“The Jackson family is grateful for the dedicated medical team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and extends heartfelt appreciation for the many prayers and kind messages offered during this time. We will continue to provide daily briefings on Reverend Jackson’s progress,” the statement said.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said he was in Chicago Monday to visit Jackson in the hospital.
The 84-year-old gained national attention in the 1960s as Martin Luther King Jr.’s protégé. Jackson spent more than 60 years advocating for racial equality and economic justice. He ran for U.S. president in 1984 and 1988.
He helped to found the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization dedicated to social justice. He spent nearly three decades leading Rainbow PUSH before stepping down in 2023.
What is PSP?
Dr. Jori Fleisher, a neurologist at Rush University Medical Center, said PSP is also known as “Parkinson’s plus,” or an atypical Parkinson’s condition.
“People have this unusual tendency in PSP to fall backwards,” Dr. Fleisher said. “It’s almost like they are just standing still and they are kind of pushed backwards.”
Dr. Behzad Elahi is a neurologist at UChicago Medicine. He is not working on Rev. Jackson’s case, but described the disease as part of the same family as Parkinson’s, but is more rare and more advanced, and it affects chewing, swallowing and balance. It is a disease where those closest to the patient must keep close watch.
“Less than 10% of those with Parkinsonism with or Parkinson disease will be diagnosed with PSP,” Dr. Elahi said. “The family is everything. Currently, we don’t have a cure for the disease. We have some medication that can help with some symptoms, but we currently don’t have any cure.”
Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain disease that affects walking, balance, eye movements and swallowing, according to the Mayo Clinic.
PSP is also known as Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome.
The cause of PSP isn’t known, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms come from the damage of brain cells.
The only proven risk factor for progressive supranuclear palsy is age, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The video in the player above is from an earlier report.