Bruce Willis Diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia, Family Releases Statement on His Condition
Bruce Willis‘ family has announced he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD).
The Mayo Clinic provides the following definition for Bruce‘s condition: “Frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term for a group of brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are generally associated with personality, behavior and language. In frontotemporal dementia, portions of these lobes shrink (atrophy). Signs and symptoms vary, depending on which part of the brain is affected. Some people with frontotemporal dementia have dramatic changes in their personalities and become socially inappropriate, impulsive or emotionally indifferent, while others lose the ability to use language properly.”
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The 67-year-old actor’s family is providing an update for his fans after announcing he had been suffering from aphasia last year, a condition that impacts communication skills.
They wrote in a statement, published on the The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website, “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. For your kindness, and because we know you love Bruce as much as we do, we wanted to give you an update.”
“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). Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” they continued.
They continued, “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. 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.”
They added, “Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that – if he could today — he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.”
“Ours is just one family with a loved one who suffers from FTD, and we encourage others facing it to seek out the wealth of information and support available through AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org). And for those of you who have been fortunate enough to not have any personal experience with FTD, we hope that you will take the time to learn about it, and support AFTD’s mission in whatever way you can,” the statement continued.
They concluded, “Bruce has always found joy in life – and has helped everyone he knows to do the same. It has meant the world to see that sense of care echoed back to him and to all of us. We have been so moved by the love you have all shared for our dear husband, father, and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible.”
The note was signed from his current wife, Emma, their two daughters, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, as well as his ex wife Demi Moore, and their three daughters Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29.
In March of 2022, it was announced by Bruce‘s family that he would be retiring from acting after suffering from aphasia. He was last photographed in December of 2022.
Our thoughts are with Bruce‘s family and loved ones during this time. For more information on frontotemporal dementia, visit theaftd.org.