Bruce Willis diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, family says

WASHINGTON — Acclaimed actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, his family shared on Thursday.

“Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis,” learn the assertion signed by Willis’ spouse, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his 5 youngsters, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.  

“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,” the assertion, which was posted on-line by the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, defined.

Frontotemporal dementia, also called FTD, is the reason for roughly 10% to twenty% of dementia instances, in line with Mayo Clinic. 

RELATED: What is frontotemporal dementia?

“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately,” the family said in the statement. “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.”

Mayo Clinic explains that frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella time period for a bunch of mind problems and tends to occur between the ages of 40 and 65. 

In 2022, Willis introduced he was stepping away from his decades-long performing profession after his preliminary prognosis. Aphasia is a situation that impacts cognitive talents comparable to talking, writing and understanding language, in line with Mayo Clinic.

“As a family, we needed to take this chance to thanks all for the outpouring of affection and compassion for Bruce over the previous ten months. Your generosity of spirit has been overwhelming, and we’re tremendously grateful for it. For your kindness, and since we all know you’re keen on Bruce as a lot as we do, we needed to offer you an replace. 

Since we introduced Bruce’s prognosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s situation has progressed and we now have a extra particular prognosis: frontotemporal dementia (referred to as FTD). Unfortunately, challenges with communication are only one symptom of the illness Bruce faces. While that is painful, it’s a reduction to lastly have a transparent prognosis.  

FTD is a merciless illness that many people have by no means heard of and may strike anybody. For folks below 60, FTD is the commonest type of dementia, and since getting the prognosis can take years, FTD is probably going way more prevalent than we all know. Today there aren’t any remedies for the illness, a actuality that we hope can change within the years forward. As Bruce’s situation advances, we hope that any media consideration might be centered on shining a light-weight on this illness that wants way more consciousness and analysis.  

Bruce all the time believed in utilizing his voice on this planet to assist others, and to lift consciousness about vital points each publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that – if he might right now — he would need to reply by bringing international consideration and a connectedness with those that are additionally dealing with this debilitating illness and the way it impacts so many people and their households.  

Ours is only one family with a cherished one who suffers from FTD, and we encourage others dealing with it to hunt out the wealth of information and help out there by means of AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org). And for these of you who’ve been lucky sufficient to not have any private expertise with FTD, we hope that you’ll take the time to study it, and help AFTD’s mission in no matter method you’ll be able to. 

Bruce has all the time discovered pleasure in life – and has helped everybody he is aware of to do the identical. It has meant the world to see that sense of care echoed again to him and to all of us. We have been so moved by the love you have got all shared for our pricey husband, father, and buddy throughout this tough time. Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will allow us to assist Bruce stay as full a life as doable. 

-Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn”