Jay Leno Reflects on 'Toughest Part' of Wife Mavis' Dementia Battle

Jay Leno has been by wife Mavis Leno’s side as she relies on him amid her dementia battle.

“That’s part of it because now she really needs me, and I like that. And I can tell that she appreciates it,” Jay, 75, said during an interview that aired on the Thursday, November 20, episode of Today. “And the idea that you get married and you take these vows, nobody ever thinks they’ll be called upon to act on them, you know? You know that part for better or worse. But even the ‘worse’ is not that bad.”

Mavis’ advanced dementia diagnosis was revealed in early 2024, with Jay being granted conservatorship over her estate months later. As he reflected on caring for Mavis, 79, over the past couple of years, Jay recalled one ritual that she developed in the morning.

“I mean, probably the toughest part was, every day she’d wake up and realize someone had called today to tell her her mother had passed away,” Jay said. “And her mother died every day for, like, three years. And it was not just crying, I mean, you’re learning for the first time. Each time was — and that was really tricky. Yeah, that makes it hard.”

Jay Leno Discusses Caring for Wife Amid Dementia Battle: 'It's a Challenge'

With Mavis’ health battle, Jay said that his wife’s appetite has “really come back,” but the pair do not go to restaurants together.

“I wish we could — I could take her out and go out to eat and do things like that, but you can’t really,” he said. “We’ll get some help and we’ll take her out in the car and we’ll drive around and look at stuff and she likes that.”

Jay noted that Mavis previously loved to travel, but now she has been restricted.

“So I’m sad that she can’t do those things,” he said. “But you know, there’s so much stuff on YouTube, the travel stuff, and we watch those things, and you know, the animal shows and all that kinda stuff.”

While Mavis still recognizes Jay today, the former late night host shared that he’s aware she may forget him at some point.

Jay Leno’s Wife Mavis Doesn’t Always Recognize Him After Dementia Diagnosis

“I understand what it is, so I don’t — you can’t blame someone. She’s not forgetting me, you know. That hasn’t happened yet. She seems very — I mean, she seems extremely comfortable now,” he said. “And she seems happy, and she seems contented. It’s actually OK. It’s good. You know, I enjoy taking care of her.”

Jay has also tried to keep his outlook positive around his wife.

“You know, when I’m carrying her — you know, carry her, like, to the bathroom, we do this and I call it Jay and Mavis at the prom, you know, in high school, you know,” he said. “So, we’re just, like, back and forth. And she thinks that’s funny.”

When asked how Mavis shows her love for him, Jay noted, “Well, by saying it.”

“You know, I can see the smile,” he continued. “I can tell when she’s happy. And when she looks at me and smiles and says she loves me, I mean, I melt.”