Rev. Jesse Jackson Is Not on Life Support but Remains Hospitalized, Family Says
- - Rev. Jesse Jackson Is Not on Life Support but Remains Hospitalized, Family Says
Charlotte PhillippNovember 17, 2025 at 10:20 PM
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Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. on July 16, 2023. -
Rev. Jesse Jackson's family is sharing an update on his medical condition after he was hospitalized for his progressive supranuclear palsy
Jackson's family said that his condition was stable and dispelled rumors that he had been placed on life support
Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain disease that causes an individual to have issues with balance, swallowing, walking and eye movements, according to the Mayo Clinic
Rev. Jesse Jackson's family is sharing an update on his medical condition after he was hospitalized for a rare brain disease.
In a statement shared via the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, his civil rights organization, on Sunday, Nov. 16, Jackson's family said that his condition, progressive supranuclear palsy, was stable and dispelled rumors that he had been placed on life support.
"Reverend Jackson is in stable condition and is breathing without the assistance of machines," his family said.
"In fact, today he called for 2,000 churches to prepare 2,000 baskets of food to prevent malnutrition during the holiday season," said his son, Yusef Jackson.
A source who spoke with CNN added that Jackson, 84, earlier had been receiving medication to raise his blood pressure. He has since been able to maintain a stable blood pressure without the assistance of medication.
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Rev. Jesse Jackson in 2022.
"The family is grateful for the dedicated medical team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where Reverend Jackson is receiving appropriate treatment," the family continued. "The Jackson family extends heartfelt appreciation for the many prayers and kind messages offered during this time."
The source added to CNN that Jackson had a significant drop in blood pressure on the night of Saturday, Nov. 15, but a medical team responded to him immediately.
While under treatment, he has shown brief but meaningful signs of responsiveness and energy, and has been taking another medication.
On Nov. 12, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition announced that Jackson, 84, had been admitted into the hospital.
“He has been managing this neurodegenerative condition for more than a decade,” the organization said.
The group continued to note that, “He was originally diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; however, last April, his PSP condition was confirmed. The family appreciates all prayers at this time."
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Rev. Jesse Jackson with family members in 1988.
Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain disease that causes an individual to have issues with balance, swallowing, walking and eye movements, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition is caused by damage to brain cells.
“Progressive supranuclear palsy worsens over time and can lead to dangerous complications, such as pneumonia and trouble swallowing,” the Mayo Clinic explains. “There's no cure for progressive supranuclear palsy, so treatment focuses on managing the symptoms.”
Jackson, an ordained Baptist minister who ran for president twice in the 1980s, was a prominent voice in the 1960s civil rights movement and a former protégé of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He formed the civil rights organizations Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition, which later merged, and stepped down as president of the organization in 2023.
Jackson has faced several health challenges in recent years.
In February 2021, he was hospitalized for abdominal discomfort and received "routine medical observation" and underwent "successful" surgery, Rainbow PUSH Coalition said at the time.
That April, he was hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19. He was then admitted to the hospital again later that year, after he fell and hit his head during an event at Howard University.
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