Brian Wilson, founder of the Beach Boys, put into a conservatorship due to dementia

[thewayne]

Poor dude. He's suffering major neurological decline.

From the article: " More details about Wilson’s condition were included in a capacity declaration. It said Wilson, the writer behind dozens of Top 40 hits including “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” and “Good Vibrations,” would find it “emotionally very stressful” as well as physically difficult to attend any court hearings in person. “He is easily distracted” and “often makes spontaneous irrelevant or incoherent utterances,” the declaration from Dr. Stephen S. Marmer, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, said.

Wilson also has a “very short attention span and while unintentionally disruptive, is frequently unable to maintain decorum appropriate to the situation,” the doctor told the court, adding that Wilson is taking a drug called Aricept to treat his dementia. The doctor said Wilson has trouble following instructions, except when he’s taking voice lessons or during physical therapy. “This is based on long-standing muscle memory,” the doctor wrote."

At least they're keeping him at home, which I'm sure is a good thing to be in familiar surroundings. Interesting that he's 'taking voice lessons', I guess that's to try to stimulate portions of his brain to try to keep them from atrophying?

I've been seeing articles about his condition and the plans for this conservatorship, I knew this was coming and pretty much inevitable.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/brian-wilson-conservatorship-daughters-rights-1235018053/

Comments

[disneydream06]

Sad news for such a big talent.
Hugs, Jon

[devilc]

I hope he passes his last days feeling loved and comfortable.

[thewayne]

It sounds like they've set him up in the best possible arrangement for that, at least to me.

[silveradept]

Neurological decline like that is rough on everyone, so it's a good thing that they're getting it taken care of before things get to the point where it would be difficult to get the right legal matters handled.

[conuly]

Even for people who aren't professional musicians it seems to be the case that music can help alleviate dementia symptoms for a time. It seems to be connected to memory in a way that the disease can't easily disrupt.

Continuing to learn new things, or trying to, and practicing skills, also seems to help stave off dementia somewhat for at least some people.

I met them in the 80s probably

[librarygeek]

I met the Beach Boys once upon a time. I was a teenager working for my CPA dad, and most of my summers were spent as "trustworthy intern" for various clients. Thankfully, that never turned out badly for me.

Relevance: one of the clients was involved in setting up the concerts on the beachs in Wildwood and Atlantic City. One of the Beach Boys asked me if I even knew who they were. I sang a line of California Girls as only an impudent but otherwise respectful teen could, grinned, and got back to work. They were kind and amused by me. 😁🤫🤷‍♀️

Re: I met them in the 80s probably

[thewayne]

That's very cool!