Rev. Jesse Jackson’s family released a statement on Sunday to deny reports that the 84-year-old civil rights activist was under some form of life support after being hospitalized in Chicago.
CNN and CBS News initially made that report, stating that his condition had aggravated. But Jackson’s family said that was not the case. “Reverend Jackson is in stable condition and is breathing without the assistance of machines,” his family said in the statement, per TMZ.
“He remains under the care of physicians as he manages progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurological disorder with which he was diagnosed in April. Contrary to specific reports, he is not on life support.”
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CBS News had reported that because of his worsening condition, Jackson’s relatives were traveling to Chicago to spend time with him.
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition announced that Jackson was hospitalized on November 12 over a rare brain disorder that he had been diagnosed with.
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Per ABC7 Chicago, sources informed them that the 84-year-old was receiving treatment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. In a statement, Rainbow PUSH said that Jackson is “under observation for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disorder he has managed for more than a decade.”
Jackson’s PSP diagnosis came after he was previously diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Per Mayo Clinic, PSP is a “rare brain disease that affects walking, balance, eye movements and swallowing.”
“The disease results from the damage of cells in areas of the brain that control body movement, coordination, thinking and other important functions. Progressive supranuclear palsy also is called Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome,” the clinic adds.
“Progressive supranuclear palsy worsens over time and can lead to dangerous complications, such as pneumonia and trouble swallowing. There’s no cure for progressive supranuclear palsy, so treatment focuses on managing the symptoms.”
The clinic also states that the cause of PSP is unknown. “Its symptoms result from the damage of cells in areas of the brain, especially areas that help you control body movements and thinking.”
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