The family of Bruce Willis has announced that the ace actor is suffering from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and that no treatment is available for the debilitating disease. The update was shared by Willis’ wife Emma Heming and her daughters, as well as ex-wife Demi Moore and her daughters.
Last year, Willis’ family said he was diagnosed with aphasia – a brain condition that makes the sufferer unable to comprehend spoken or written words. The family said the A-list actor would step down from acting on account of the condition since he had a problem with communication. “As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” they shared at the time.
The family said that even though Willis, 67, was diagnosed with aphasia in March 2022, they are glad that they are finally able to understand that he is suffering from frontotemporal dementia, which is one of the types of dementia out there. “While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” they said. “Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces.”
The family said they would want media attention to focus on extensive research for FTD instead of focusing on Willis as a patient.
“FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone,” they said. “For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know. Today, there are no treatments for the disease; a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. 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.”
Willis shares two daughters Evelyn, 8, and Mabel, 10, with wife Emma Heming; and three daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah with former wife Demi Moore. Rumer is pregnant with her first child with boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas and Willis may become a grandfather anytime soon. His recent movie is “Detective Knight: Independence” which was released in January 2023 and “Assassin” which is billed for release in March.