Bruce Willis, the ‘Die Hard’ actor, has been diagnosed with FTD (frontotemporal dementia), which has no treatments or cure. Previously, in 2022, the reports claimed that the veteran actor had been diagnosed with aphasia – but that wasn’t the complete story. The 70-year-old is now one of the several Americans who live with the disease that can impact language skills, behaviour patterns, and movement.
Emma Heming Willis opens up about FTD
In an interview with Town & Country, Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, opened up about the disease that has affected the actor and its impact on their family. While there wasn’t a definitive point where the 47-year-old could say that’s where the disease started, she mentioned that there were loose symptoms a year before his diagnosis. However, Emma claimed that FTD is often misdiagnosed, missed, and even misunderstood, so she had to learn about it and educate their children as well.
About the disease FTD
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.