Actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, “a cruel disease,” his family said in a statement posted on Thursday to the website of the Association for Temporal Frontal Degeneration Willis received his initial aphasia diagnosis last year. He was “moving away” from his acting profession as a result, according to his family at the time.
“As a family, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpouring of love and compassion for Bruce over the past ten months. Your generosity of spirit has been overwhelming, and we are tremendously grateful for it,” the family said Thursday before giving an update on Willis’ condition.
“Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed, and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD),” continued the statement.
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“Challenges with communication” are one of Willis’s FTD symptoms. According to the AFTD, the majority of FTD cases occur between the ages of 45 and 64. FTD is the most prevalent form of dementia in those under 60. Given that it is less well-known and that a formal diagnosis might take years to obtain, the disease is probably more widespread than statistics indicate.
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According to the AFTD, FTD is a degenerative brain condition marked by impairment of the frontal and/or temporal lobes. Symptoms may include “uncharacteristic personality changes, apathy, and unexplained struggles with decision-making, speaking or language comprehension are among the most common presenting symptoms.” The Willis family states that they hope to change this because there is neither a therapy nor a cure for the illness.
“As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research,” Including that Willis has consistently believed in utilizing his voice to spread awareness and assist others, both publicly and privately.
Including that Willis has consistently believed in utilizing his voice to spread awareness and assist others, both publicly and privately.
The five daughters of Willis, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, and his ex-wife, Demi Moore, all signed the letter.
