Bruce Willis Has Been Diagnosed With Frontotemporal Dementia

Bruce Willis’ Ex Wife Demi Moore Reveals The Retired Actor Has Been Diagnosed With Frontotemporal Dementia

Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with dementia, evolving from a previous diagnosis of aphasia last spring, the retired actor’s family announced Thursday.

Specifically, Willis has frontotemporal dementia, which can include aphasia, which brings challenges with speaking and writing.

Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces,” his family said. “While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”

 

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Willis’s family said last year the actor would be stepping away from his decades-long career due to his impaired cognition.

Frontotemporal dementia, also known as FTD, is one of several types of dementia and causes nerve damage in the frontal and temporal lobes, which leads to a loss of function in those areas, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

There are different types of frontotemporal dementia. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia causes nerve loss in the areas of the brain that control empathy, judgment and conduct.

Primary progressive aphasia deteriorates parts of the brain that control speaking, writing and comprehension. The onset of symptoms typically begins before age 65, but can occur later.