Bruce Willis' dementia diagnosis: When actor's wife, Emma Hemings, spoke about the symptoms, care and more

Beloved actor Bruce Willis , known for his iconic roles in films like Die Hard, is facing a heartbreaking health battle. Following an initial diagnosis of aphasia in 2022, his family recently shared the difficult news that his condition has progressed to frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This rare and devastating disease currently has no cure or effective treatments, impacting his language skills, behavior, and movement. The 70-year-old actor’s diagnosis sheds light on the challenges faced by many Americans living with this complex and life-altering condition.

Emma Heming Willis opens up about FTD

In a candid interview with Town & Country, Emma Heming Willis shared her family's journey since her husband, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). She revealed that while there was no clear start date for the disease, she noticed subtle symptoms a year before the diagnosis. Recognizing that FTD is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, Emma took on the responsibility of learning about the condition to help her family, especially their children, navigate this challenging time. She emphasized that it has been a difficult path, but she felt it was crucial to educate herself to support her family.

About the disease FTD

This may sound harsh, but the truth is, the disease has no cure – it's chronic, progressive, and terminal. While there is no treatment, Emma strives to raise global awareness, hoping to help another family out there. Explaining the condition, the model-actress said that FTD is a form of dementia that affects people after the age of 60. It impacts the frontal part of the brain and the temporal lobes, challenging movements, language, and behaviour. As it is progressive, it can spread to other parts as well.

The symptoms of dementia in Bruce Willis

For Bruce Willis, the attack started in his temporal lobes and spread to the frontal part of his brain. In his childhood, the actor faced the issue of stuttering; however, in college, he could memorise a script without any problem. While he was good at hiding it, Emma couldn’t think in a million years that his change in language and stuttering would be the symptom of dementia.

A book to help

Meanwhile, Emma Heming Willis has written a book for the caregivers, where she mentioned taking care of the patients as well as themselves during the vulnerable times. “his book is about all the emotions that come with caregiving: the sadness, the grief, how traumatic it is, but also resentment and anger, and all these emotions that you’re not allowed to talk about. It’s the book that I wish I had been handed when we got the FTD diagnosis,” she said.