Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon, passed away on February 17, 2026, at age 84. His family and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition announced he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones, but they did not specify an exact cause of death.

His Long Battle with Illness

Jackson had lived with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) —a rare neurological disorder—for over a decade, often mistaken for Parkinson's due to overlapping symptoms like movement issues and speech difficulties. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2017, his condition was confirmed as PSP in 2025; this progressive brain disease damages nerve cells, leading to tau protein buildup and cell death, primarily in the brainstem. Pneumonia from aspiration is the most common fatality linked to PSP, per medical sources, though no such detail was confirmed for Jackson.

Recent Health Timeline

  • November 2025 : Hospitalized in Chicago for PSP observation; family clarified he was stable, not on life support, despite rumors.
  • Released shortly after, he remained active in calls for community aid, like food baskets for hunger relief.
  • Earlier falls and COVID hospitalizations marked his challenges, yet he embodied resilience as a "servant leader".

What Experts Say on PSP

"PSP can be confused with Parkinson's because the two share some similar symptoms."

This "rainbow coalition" founder transformed civil rights and politics, running for president twice. Trending discussions highlight his legacy amid grief, with no official cause beyond his known PSP battle—family statements urge focus on his voiceless advocacy. Tributes from leaders worldwide poured in immediately.

TL;DR : No exact cause named; linked to decade-long PSP struggle, per latest reports as of Feb 18, 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.