Reverend Jesse Jackson Remains Hospitalized in Chicago with Rare Neurological Disorder
CHICAGO (WLS) — Civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson remained hospitalized in Chicago over the weekend, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition confirmed.
Rainbow PUSH held its weekly forum on Saturday, where Congressman Jonathan Jackson thanked supporters for their outpouring of prayers. Also on Saturday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke publicly about Rev. Jackson’s health. The mayor shared that he has been praying for Jackson and recently visited him at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, spending time also speaking with Jackson’s wife.
Rev. Jackson remains hospitalized and is receiving treatment for a rare neurological disorder that affects movement and balance. According to family members, he is currently stable and surrounded by loved ones. They spoke more about his condition on Thursday, following his hospitalization on Wednesday.
Initially believed to have Parkinson’s disease, officials with Rainbow PUSH clarified that Rev. Jackson was diagnosed in April 2025 with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disease.
A Legacy of Advocacy and Leadership
The 84-year-old gained national recognition in the 1960s as a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Over more than 60 years, Jackson tirelessly advocated for racial equality and economic justice. He ran for U.S. president in 1984 and 1988.
Jackson helped to found the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization dedicated to social justice, and he led the group for nearly three decades before stepping down in 2023.
His impact has been felt worldwide, and now, many are sending prayers and well-wishes in return for his lifelong dedication to service.
“And just, really, what his service has meant to people,” said Santita Jackson. “It really, in this moment, has lifted everybody. I was talking with my father. I said, ‘You don’t know how many people love you.’ And just, really, what his service has meant to people.”
Rev. Jackson’s family says that doctors are closely monitoring his progress, but a timeline for his release from the hospital remains unclear.
What is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)?
Dr. Jori Fleisher, a neurologist at Rush University Medical Center, explained that PSP is also known as “Parkinson’s plus,” or an atypical form of Parkinson’s disease. “People have this unusual tendency in PSP to fall backwards,” Dr. Fleisher said. “It’s almost like they are just standing still and kind of pushed backwards.”
Dr. Behzad Elahi, a neurologist at UChicago Medicine who is not directly involved in Rev. Jackson’s care, described PSP as part of the same disease family as Parkinson’s, but rarer and more advanced. It affects chewing, swallowing, and balance.
“Less than 10% of those with parkinsonism or Parkinson’s disease will be diagnosed with PSP,” Dr. Elahi stated. “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.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain disease that affects walking, balance, eye movements, and swallowing. PSP is also referred to as Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome.
The cause of PSP remains unknown. The symptoms result from damage to brain cells. Age is the only proven risk factor associated with this disorder.
As Rev. Jackson continues his fight with this challenging condition, his family and supporters remain hopeful and steadfast in their prayers.