American civil rights icon Jesse Jackson is battling Parkinson’s disease.
The politician and activist announced the news of his health battle in a statement on Friday (17Nov17).
It reads: “After a battery of tests, my physicians identified the issue as Parkinson’s disease, a disease that bested my father.
“Recognition of the effects of this disease on me has been painful, and I have been slow to grasp the gravity of it. For me, a Parkinson’s diagnosis is not a stop sign but rather a signal that I must make lifestyle changes and dedicate myself to physical therapy in hopes of slowing the disease’s progression.”
Others who have battled or are battling the condition include late boxing great Muhammad Ali and actor Michael J. Fox.