Bruce Willis has dementia, his family announces
The family of actor Bruce Willis has announced that he has frontotemporal dementia, causing a flood of emotions in the entertainment industry and beyond. In a statement shared on social media, his family expressed their relief at finally receiving a clear diagnosis. Last year, the 67-year-old was diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects speech, which has since progressed into a more specific diagnosis.
His family went on to explain that frontotemporal dementia is the most common form of dementia for people under 60 years old. They also revealed that there are currently no treatments for the disease. Bruce Willis, a household name known for his roles in blockbuster films like Die Hard, The Sixth Sense, and Pulp Fiction, has been nominated for numerous awards, including five Golden Globes and three Emmys.
Willis’s family also stated that he would no longer act, given that his condition had started to impact his cognitive abilities. They hope that the attention brought to Willis’s condition will raise awareness about frontotemporal dementia, a rare form of dementia that primarily affects individuals in midlife. The disease is caused by a buildup of toxic proteins in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which can cause a range of symptoms, including aphasia, changes in behavior, and difficulty planning.
The announcement of Willis’s diagnosis has sparked reactions from across the entertainment industry, with fellow actors and journalists expressing their sadness and support. Maria Shriver, a prominent campaigner for brain disorder patient care and research, tweeted her gratitude to Bruce Willis and his family for shining a light on this disease. While there is no cure or way to slow down the disease, Willis’s family hopes that by speaking out about his condition, they can bring greater attention to the disease and support others who are affected by it.
