‘This is painful’: Bruce Willis’ family says his condition has worsened
Global News
Bruce Willis has now been diagnosed with a rare type of dementia called frontotemporal dementia.
Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, his family confirmed Thursday.
Nearly a year after announcing his battle with aphasia, the actor’s family, including ex-wife Demi Moore, current wife Emma Heming and his five daughters, shared a health update in a statement on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website.
“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” the family said, noting that Willis’ condition has worsened in the past year.
“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,” they continued.
Willis, 67, retired from acting in March of 2022. His family explained at the time that Willis was “experiencing some health issues … which are impacting his cognitive abilities.”
On Thursday, they explained that the FTD is affecting Willis’ communication skills.
According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, FTD is an umbrella term for a group of rare disorders that most often affect the parts of the brain associated with personality and behaviour.
