10 Years After Prince’s Death, New Details Emerge About His Health and Final Days
This year marks ten years since the passing of music icon Prince. At the age of 57, the Minneapolis, Minnesota native was found dead at his famous Paisley Park estate as a result of an accidental overdose of Fentanyl.
Known to the world as one of the most revolutionary artists of all time, easily on par with fellow late 80s icons Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, Prince sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and was a recipient of various accolades.
In an exclusive interview with writer Stacy M. Brown of BlackPressSA, the late multi-hyphenate’s former bassist Brown Mark revealed that he was possibly suffering from memory loss. “I knew something was wrong” he says, “Something was not right with his memory and his behavior.”
Brown Mark went on to describe Prince showing early signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, including forgetting recently used information and repeating conversations. He maintains he does not think Prince actually had dementia or Alzheimer’s, only pointing to what the medical examiner said that played a major role, the medication.
A Legacy That Redefined Music and Identity
Known for his outrageous fashion and flamboyant persona, Prince blurred the lines of musical sounds as well as conventional gender expression.
In a 2025 article from The Grio, he is described as a standout “from other artists for his commitment to pushing the boundaries of genre, gender, and artistry as a whole… The singer was also known for his distinct approach to fashion, which incorporated bold makeup, flamboyant frills, and an endless appreciation for the color purple… As a Black man who was proudly feminine and secure in his heterosexuality, Prince challenged notions of what masculinity — particularly Black masculinity — can look like. Like his music, Prince himself deliberately defied categorization, blending elements of masculinity and femininity in his image and his art.” Paving the way for succeeding artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Andre 3000, and Lil Nas X.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), most dementia cases are found in individuals ages 65 and up, with 1 in 9 Americans in this age group affected.
Prince passing away 8 years shy of this age showing early signs hours before his passing sheds light on how perhaps early detection can make the difference. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, early detection allows access to treatment options as well as opportunities to participate in trials that will continue to move the needle forward in medical research.
This revelation about one of music’s all time legends hopefully will continue to promote awareness around dementia and Alzheimer’s.
