Gradually fell into coma to death at age 77 and 61 days, then receive a discreet funeral, perhaps imposed by the regulations of the French invaders who tortured disease Haydn's last years of his life was the progressive deterioration of mental abilities that prevented from carrying out their usual activities: the gradual loss of memory, emotional liability, depression and withdrawal, all of these symptoms are part of what is known in medicine as dementia. Therefore, Haydn was, little by little, "losing your mind" for the first time. Dementia may be due to several causes, the most common are cerebral arteriosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. While the two causes of dementia have similar diagnostic criteria in the psychiatric diagnostic manual "fashion" (DSM-IV-TR), dementia of vascular origin is associated with focal neurological disorders, such as balance disorders, which occurred Haydn frequently. Two symptoms suffered during the last years of his life: the swollen legs and difficulty breathing caused by minimal efforts also reflect the existence of heart failure. It has been written in 1803, at 71, he could not complete his last quartet, instead of the two missing movements, he sent his publisher a card that said "I lost all my strength, I am old and weak." A complete inability to write music, he said the swelling of the feet, which forced him to stay at home and even in the same room. Nevertheless, he continued his methodical habits household, with its elegant dress, with his powdered wig, white gloves and leather gay enjoy the company of friends.
He made good use of the daily half-hour nap, which forced him to undress, and then return to their usual attire. By the age of 73 memory loss and headaches joined involuntary crying spells and the inability to play even a few chords on the piano. The rumors of his death appeared in London. In Paris, the Italian musician Luigi Cherubini composed prematurely funeral cantata in honor of Haydn, who upon hearing said: "Had I known, I myself have run my own church." As his health deteriorated, the doctor bills, and the provision of wine consumed, were increased progressively. There was an event that deeply saddened him, without ever being replenished, as often wept at the memory: the death of Mozart on December 5, 1791.
Haydn generously recognized the great talent of Mozart and the Beethoven, though relations with the latter were not as cordial, no doubt by the large difference in personalities between teacher and student. During his illness, often consoled himself sitting at the piano and playing only erhalten Gott Franz den Kaiser, which was composed by himself in 1797 as a patriotic gesture. This song was later used as the national anthems of Austria and Germany. In 1806 he printed some cards to decline the invitations he received to the following: 'Hin ist alle meine Kraft, alt und schwach bin ich "(All my strength is gone, I am old and tired), extracted from the song" Old " composed in 1796