CHICAGO — Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. has been discharged from a downtown hospital after nearly a two-week stay, as confirmed by his family.
The 84-year-old activist left Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Monday and is reportedly in stable condition.
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His release follows a transfer from the Intensive Care Unit last week.
Jackson’s family revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, with a recent update in April indicating a progression to supranuclear palsy, a complex neurological disorder.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the countless friends and supporters who have reached out to us with visits and prayers for our father. We are convinced of the power of prayer and are deeply appreciative of the outstanding medical and security staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We continue to ask for your prayers during this precious time,” expressed his son and family spokesperson, Yusef Jackson.
Rev. Jesse Jackson first rose to national prominence in the 1960s as a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. Over more than six decades, he has been a steadfast advocate for racial equality and economic justice, even pursuing presidential campaigns 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.
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