LOUD & CLEAR
The 6 early dementia warning signs when you speak – after Bruce Willis’s first sign dismissed
Plus, everything you need to know about Bruce Willis's dementia diagnosis
MEMORY loss and confusion are well known symptoms of dementia.
But the brain-robbing disease can affect us in other subtle and unexpected ways - sometimes affecting the way we talk.
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This was the case for Die Hard actor Bruce Willis, 69, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) - a uncommon form of the disease that causes behaviour and langue problems - in 2023.
His wife Emma Heming Willis, 46, recently revealed that Bruce began to show early signs of the disease in the way he spoke.
But she said the actor's initial symptoms were at first dismissed due to his lifelong struggle with stuttering.
In an interview with , she said: "For Bruce, it started with language."
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According to Emma, the Hollywood icon "has always had a stutter, but he has been good at covering it up".
In fact, Bruce's speech struggles are what lead him to pursue acting in the first place.
"He had a severe stutter as a child. He went to college, and there was a theatre teacher who said, 'I’ve got something that’s going to help you'," Emma said.
"From that class, Bruce realised that he could memorise a script and be able to say it without stuttering.
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";That’s what propelled him into acting."
His family soon realised his struggles went far beyond a stutter.
Signs of dementia that might be missed
Bruce was diagnosed with a symptom of FTD known as aphasia - a brain disorder that affects how you speak and understand language - in 2022.
The star announced he was stepping back from acting at the time and made his FTD diagnosis public the following year.
Emma recalled: "As his language started changing, it [seemed like it] was just a part of a stutter, it was just Bruce.
"Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young.
"I say that FTD whispers, it doesn’t shout,"; she went on.
"It’s hard for me to say, 'This is where Bruce ended, and this is where his disease started to take over'."
More than 900,000 Brits have dementia, and this is set to rise beyond a million by 2025.
Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common form, accounting for about 60 to 70 per cent of cases.
This number is expected to rise sharply in the coming years as people continue to live longer - as ageing is a major risk factor of the disease.
Like with many conditions, getting an early diagnosis is important as it gives people the best chance of managing the disease and alleviating symptoms.
Signs of dementia in speech
As we get older, we may start to notice it takes us longer to find the right words during a heated debate.
But this isn't necessarily a sign of dementia itself.
Instead, scientists from the University of Tornoto have found that the speed at which we talk is a more important indicator of brain health than finding words.
Their study involved using artificial intelligence software to analyse language abilities of 125 health volunteers aged 18 to 90.
They found that word-finding abilities got worse naturally with age, but were not linked to cognitive decline, a precursor for dementia.
But talking slowly was associated with weaker brain functions, finding, published in , showed.
“Our results indicate that changes in general talking speed may reflect changes in the brain,” study co-author Dr Jed Meltzer said.
“This suggests that talking speed should be tested as part of standard cognitive assessments to help clinicians detect cognitive decline faster and help older adults support their brain health as they age,” Dr Jed explained.
Bruce Willis's double diagnosis
Hollywood legend Bruce Willis, 69, quit acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia - a condition that affects speech and language.
In 2023, his family revealed that the condition had sadly "progressed" and he'd been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
It's the most common form of dementia in people under 60.
Symptoms include personality changes, obsessive behaviour and speaking difficulties.
Aphasia usually occurs after a stroke or head injury, the NHS says.
But the onset of aphasia may be the result of a neurological condition that causes the brain and nervous system to become damaged over time, such as .
The actor's daughter Rumer, 36, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Demi Moore, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram.
The statement read: "Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support, and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis.
"In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father, and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.
"Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD).
"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."
Read more on Bruce here.
Experts have discovered there are other symptoms of the disease which you can also spot in the way someone speaks.
This is because dementia can damage the parts of the brain that control language.
How and when language problems develop will depend on the type of dementia they have and what stage it is at.
Some of these include:
- Not being able to find the right words
- Using a related word (for example, ‘book’ instead of ‘newspaper’)
- Using substitutes for words (for example, ‘thing that you sit on’ instead of ‘chair’)
- Not find any word at all
- Not struggle to find words, but use words that have no meaning or that are jumbled up in the wrong order
- Going back to the first language they learned as a child. For example, if they learn English as a second language, they may forget how to speak it.
There is currently no cure or way of slowing the fatal disease, which robs sufferers of their memory, intelligence and physical strength.
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In the past two years, two new drugs called lecanemab and donanemab have shown breakthrough success in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s
Experts say approval and NHS rollout is still in doubt because of fears about serious side effects.
How to reduce your risk of dementia
Experts agree that what's good for your heart is also good for your brain. This means you can help reduce your risk of dementia by:
- Eating a balanced diet (which includes five portions of fruit and veg per day)
- Maintaining a healthy weight (a BMI score of between 18.5 and 24.9)
- Exercising regularly (at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week)
- Keeping alcohol within recommended limits
- Stopping smoking
- Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level (between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg)
Source: NHS
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