# Brian Wilson has dementia **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685 "2024-02-16T22:17:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/1 "2024-02-16T22:17:07Z")
His family is seeking to have him placed under a [conservatorship](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/arts/music/brian-wilson-conservatorship-dementia.html). A sad end for a brilliant musician who had a host of psychological problems during his lifetime. He’s 81. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/2 "2024-02-16T22:27:24Z")
Here’s a link that doesn’t require a signup: > **[Brian Wilson's Family Seeks Conservatorship for Beach Boys Legend Following...](https://people.com/brian-wilson-the-beach-boys-family-seeks-conservatorship-following-wife-death-8584029)** > > Brian Wislon — who suffers from a "major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia)," according to the filing — "will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects," the family said in a statement. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/3 "2024-02-16T22:30:49Z")
Thanks. That article skirts around things a bit. The NYT article was more blunt about his inability to care for himself. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/4 "2024-02-16T22:35:07Z")
I kinda sensed this was coming. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/5 "2024-02-16T22:38:55Z")
I’m old enough have been a teen when they first burst on the scene with their “surfer music”. Surfin’ U.S.A. was their first #1 hit. It was like a foreign language for this Alaska boy, who had never heard of that activity. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/6 "2024-02-16T22:51:28Z")
A brilliant, brilliant guy but he has always seemed a bit off to me. I remember a Carson spot. ETA: [Here he is on Letterman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc3JQYKK-98) I wish him and his family the very best. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/7 "2024-02-16T22:54:43Z")
Sad to hear. I’ve been listening to some of his odder, less-known stuff recently like “Love You.” What an utterly _colorful_ mind that man had. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/8 "2024-02-16T23:00:19Z")
Definitely sad to hear. Love the Beach Boys. As an aside – not to hijack, but not sure it merits its own thread – > **[Jay Leno files for conservatorship over his wife's estate due to her dementia](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-leno-files-for-conservatorship-over-wife-mavis-dementia-diagnosis/)** > > The comedian filed for a conservatorship over the estate of his wife of 43 years, Mavis Leno, after she was diagnosed with dementia​, according to court documents. They appear to have one of those long-standing, functional Hollywood marriages that almost don’t exist anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/9 "2024-02-17T00:20:01Z")
The NYTimes article mentions that Wilson’s wife, his caretaker, died last month. Depending in his condition he may not know or he may be devastated. Old age is brutal. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/10 "2024-02-17T02:27:28Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Depending in his condition he may not know or he may be devastated. Or he may be devastated over and over: every time he asks about it and is told afresh that she has died. Dying is bad; dementia is worse. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/11 "2024-02-17T04:03:11Z")
[Here’s a gift link to the article mentioned in the OP](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/arts/music/brian-wilson-conservatorship-dementia.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WE0.pZ34.4VP8IdBVDcUz&smid=url-share). Should be available to anyone who wants to read it. I hope he gets the care he needs and there are no ulterior motives here. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/12 "2024-02-17T04:29:32Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Or he may be devastated over and over: every time he asks about it and is told afresh that she has died. > > Dying is bad; dementia is worse. Take me out back and tell me to think about the rabbits. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/13 "2024-02-17T11:47:37Z")
Shame we can do that to our cat, but not to ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/14 "2024-02-17T19:13:17Z")
When his wife died, the announcement on social media purportedly came from Brian. For whatever that’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/15 "2024-02-17T19:18:07Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > A brilliant, brilliant guy but he has always seemed a bit off to me. A couple of times over the years when I’ve seen him interviewed, he’s seemed kind of “out of it” when talking about anything except music. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/16 "2024-02-17T19:25:21Z")
It would be difficult to find a better example of a really talented guy who was taken advantage by “the Biz” that the music industry was in those days. His heavy drug use starting ~ 1966 put him all the way into “coo-coo for cocoa puffs” land. When you’re writing top 10 hits perhaps it is easy to start believing the hype, and by all accounts he was never quite …. the same after that. Really rang his bell. At one point he was wandering around aimlessly, playing piano in bars to get drinks or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![GrunthosTheFlatulent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grunthostheflatulent/32/21319_2.png) [@GrunthosTheFlatulent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrunthosTheFlatulent)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/17 "2024-02-17T19:31:09Z")
> **Hid off-topic political jab** > > He should run for president. ---
**Author:** ![GrunthosTheFlatulent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grunthostheflatulent/32/21319_2.png) [@GrunthosTheFlatulent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrunthosTheFlatulent)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/18 "2024-02-17T19:37:05Z")
In the 70s he was obsessed with the song Shortnin Bread and would play it over and over for hours. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/19 "2024-02-17T19:39:01Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > > > Depending in his condition he may not know or he may be devastated. > > Or he may be devastated over and over: every time he asks about it and is told afresh that she has died. > > Dying is bad; dementia is worse. My mother-in-law has dementia. Doesn’t know the woman that comes to see her every week is her daughter. You’re absolutely right - dementia is horrible. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685/20 "2024-02-17T19:50:51Z")
**Moderating** : We’re in the Cafe, keep the political jabs out please. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685.md?page=2)