The family of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is clarifying the condition of the civil rights icon after he was hospitalized on Nov. 12. They dispelled previous reports that he was on life support, saying he was breathing on his own.
According to the family, Jackson was admitted to the hospital under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy, which is a rare, progressive neurological disorder affecting eye movement and other functions.
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On Sunday, the family released a statement saying previous reports that Jackson was on life support were untrue. Previous reports stated that Jackson was on a form of life support to maintain his blood pressure after it dropped to dangerous levels over the weekend.
His family said Jackson was at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago but was breathing without the assistance of a machine.
“In fact, today he called for 2,000 churches to prepare 2,000 baskets of food to prevent malnutrition during the holiday season,” his son Yusef Jackson said.
What is progressive supranuclear palsy?
Doctors diagnosed Jackson with progressive supranuclear palsy in 2024, and he has dealt with symptoms of the disorder since. Originally, his doctors diagnosed him with Parkinson’s disease in 2015 but later corrected their diagnosis.
The disorder affects body movements, particularly the eyes, and makes it difficult to walk and balance. While different, PSP is similar to Parkinson’s but PSP typically begins later in life. It can also rapidly worsen and lead to dangerous complications like pneumonia, choking or head injuries because of falls.
Jackson was previously hospitalized after hitting his head during a fall in 2021. Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the nonprofit Jackson created and ran, did not say if it was due to the PSP. He stepped down as president of the group in 2023.
