Bruce Willis’ family has revealed that the actor has frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
This comes less than a year after he retired from acting due to aphasia, a brain disorder.
The 67-year-old Hollywood icon retired from acting last year as he battled the illness that was causing his language abilities to deteriorate.
Unfortunately, his condition has “progressed,” according to a joint statement issued by his family on Thursday, Feb. 16.
FTD affects the lobes of the brain behind the forehead that deal with behavior, problem-solving, planning, and emotions – symptoms include personality changes, obsessive behavior, and difficulty speaking.
His wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore, and five daughters issued the following statement: “Our family would like to begin by expressing our heartfelt appreciation for the incredible outpouring of love, support, and wonderful stories that we have all received since learning of Bruce’s initial diagnosis.
“In that spirit, we wanted to provide you with an update on our beloved husband, father, and friend, as we now have a better understanding of what he is going through.
“Bruce’s condition has progressed since we announced his aphasia diagnosis in spring 2022, and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD).
“Unfortunately, communication difficulties are only one symptom of Bruce’s disease. While this is painful, having a clear diagnosis is a relief.
“FTD is a heinous disease that many of us have never heard of and that can affect anyone. FTD is the most common type of dementia in people under the age of 60, and because diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more common than we realize.
“There are currently no treatments for the disease, which we hope will change in the coming years. As Bruce’s condition worsens, we hope that any media attention will be focused on raising awareness and funding for this disease.
“Bruce has always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and to raise public and private awareness about important issues.
“We know deep down that? If he could, he would respond by drawing global attention to and connecting with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it affects so many people and their families.
“Ours is just one family with a loved one suffering from FTD, and we encourage others to seek out the wealth of information and support offered by AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org).
“And for those of you who have not had personal experience with FTD, we hope you will take the time to learn more about it and support AFTD’s mission in any way you can.
“Bruce has always found happiness in life? and has assisted everyone he knows in doing the same. It meant everything to see that sense of care reflected back to him and to all of us. We have been moved by your love for our dear husband, father, and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will allow us to assist Bruce in living the fullest life possible.”
His wife Emma, ex-wife Demi, and daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn all signed the statement.
