Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, 84, died after battling progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disorder.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader and activist, died at 84 after battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare brain disorder that affects movement, balance, and swallowing. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he was later found to have PSP, which causes early falls, eye movement issues, and cognitive decline. There is no cure, and treatment focuses on symptom management. Jackson, a key figure in the civil rights movement and associate of Martin Luther King Jr., remained active in advocacy despite his health struggles, including participating in protests and running for president in 1984 and 1988.