Actor Bruce Willis’ wife shares how their family is coping with his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, emphasizing the lessons in love and care they have learned through the challenges.
In March 2022, the family announced that the renowned “Die Hard” actor was diagnosed with aphasia, which impacted his cognitive abilities and led to his retirement from the silver screen. The family then revealed in February that Willis had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
During an interview on NBC’s “TODAY” show, Emma Heming Willis, his wife, referred to herself as a “care partner” and expressed how their household has been open and honest about the disease.
Heming Willis explained, “The most important thing was to educate ourselves and our daughters about the disease, to remove any stigma or shame associated with their dad’s diagnosis or any form of dementia. Understanding the medical standpoint of the disease helps make sense of it all.”
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Bruce Willis, 68, has three adult daughters from his previous marriage to Demi Moore and two young daughters with Heming Willis.
In conjunction with World FTD Awareness Week, Heming Willis, 45, spoke about frontotemporal dementia, also known as FTD. FTD is an umbrella term for a group of brain disorders that predominantly affect personality, behavior, and language, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms of FTD range from dramatic personality changes and impulsivity to loss of language abilities, as described by the clinic.
FTD has no known cure, but medications can alleviate associated symptoms such as agitation, irritability, and depression, as explained by the National Institute on Aging.
According to Susan Wilkinson, CEO of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, FTD often goes misdiagnosed, leading to an average diagnosis time of almost four years and numerous misdiagnoses along the way.
When questioned about Willis’ awareness of his own condition, Heming Willis responded, “It’s hard to know.” Wilkinson further explained that the frontal lobe, responsible for self-insight, is affected by FTD. Therefore, some individuals may lose understanding of their own changes early on, while others retain it for an extended period.
Heming Willis referred to her husband’s diagnosis as a “blessing and a curse” and expressed gratitude for the love, patience, and resilience he continues to demonstrate. She emphasized the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of their lives and embracing joy, as that is what Willis would want for their family.
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