Bruce Willis’ family reveals ‘unfortunate’ update on actor’s ‘untreatable’ illness after ‘cruel’ aphasia diagnosis
BRUCE Willis has been diagnosed with 'untreatable' frontotemporal dementia, his family has revealed.
The Hollywood legend, 67, quit acting last year after being diagnosed with aphasia - a condition that affects speech and language - which has now sadly 'progressed'.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the most common form of dementia in people under 60 and symptoms include personality changes, obsessive behaviour and speaking difficulties.
The actor's daughter Rumer, 34, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Demi Moore, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram.
explained that Bruce's condition was sadly "not treatable" and it "has progressed."
It 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."
The statement went on to detail the "painful" disease the Pulp Fiction star is facing.
"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.
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"To read our full statement and learn more about this disease please go to the link in our bio," she closed, signing off as the "Ladies of Willis/Moore."
Willis' ex-wife Demi and daughter Tallulah shared the same statement on their own Instagram accounts.
'CRUEL DISEASE'
The family's statement continued on The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration further detailing the difficult toll the disease takes.
It read: "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.
"Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.
"Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that – if he could today -- he would want to respond by bringing global attention and connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families."
The message went on: "Ours is just one family with a loved one who suffers from FTD, and we encourage others facing it to seek out the wealth of information and support available through AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org).
"And for those of you who have been fortunate enough to not have any personal experience with FTD, we hope that you will take the time to learn about it, and support AFTD’s mission in whatever way you can.
"Bruce has always found joy in life – and has helped everyone he knows to do the same. It has meant the world to see that sense of care echoed back to him and to all of us. We have been so moved by the love you have all shared for our dear husband, father, and friend during this difficult time.
"Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible," the family concluded.
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, refers to a group of disorders caused by nerve cell loss in the brain’s frontal lobes. This is the area behind your forehead and it can also be found in the regions behind your ears, known as the temporal lobe.
According to the , this nerve damage leads to a loss of function in these brain regions.
This can cause symptoms such as a deterioration in behaviour, personality issues or problems understanding others.
Guidance states that there are a number of different diseases that cause FTD with the most prominent being a group of brain disorders involving the protein tau and a second group involving a protein called TDP43.
These groups have a preference for the frontal lobe and temporal lobes that cause dementia.
Most people with FTD are diagnosed with the condition in their 40s and 60s, Alzheimer's, on the other hand, grows more common with increasing age.
Advanced FTD often causes memory loss in addition to its more characteristic effects on behaviour and language, guidance states.
SCARY DIAGNOSIS
In March 2022, Bruce's family announced that he would be taking a break from acting amid his diagnosis.
Alongside a throwback photo of the father-daughter duo, Rumer wrote: "To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities."
"As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him."
She continued: "This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion, and support."
"We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him."
"As Bruce always says, 'Live it up' and together we plan to do just that."
His five daughters signed the post - Rumer, Scout, 31, Tallulah, 29, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, eight - as well as his wife, Emma Heming Willis, 44, and his ex-wife Demi, 60.
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Scout, Tallulah, Emma, and Demi all reposted Rumer's statement on their Instagram pages.
An outpouring of support followed, including words from Jamie Lee Curtis, Marlene King, and Debi Mazar.
