Bruce Willis Has Frontotemporal Dementia, Health Condition Worsens

Bruce Willis was officially diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, according to a statement released by his family on Thursday.

The 67 years old actor is diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. ( Image Source :Twitter )

New Delhi: Hollywood action hero Bruce Willis, who was diagnosed with aphasia in March 2022 and announced his retirement from acting the same month, is now in a worse physical state. The 67 years old actor was officially diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, according to a statement released by his family on Thursday.

The Die Hard actor's family—wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore, and children Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn—revealed in a statement uploaded to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration's website that Willis' aphasia has advanced into a diagnosis of dementia. They said that his difficulties with language and memory are only one indication of the sickness Bruce experiences.

The statement read, "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. 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.”

The term "frontotemporal dementia" (FTD) describes a group of conditions that impair the regions of the brain that regulate thought, speech, and behaviour. It's unclear what sets off these shifts in attitude and conduct, but they may make a person seem aloof, impetuous, or unconcerned with the feelings of others around them. 

Some patients may completely lose their capacity to communicate. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, FTD often manifests itself between the ages of 40 and 65, and it's responsible for as much as 20% of dementia cases.

In the early 1980s, Willis made his acting debut in films. His career took off with his starring role in the 1985 ABC sitcom Moonlighting opposite Cybill Shepherd and when he played the iconic action hero John McClane in the 1988 film ‘Die Hard’. Along with the four Die Hard sequels, his filmography also includes Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, The Fifth Element, The Sixth Sense, and Armageddon.