Bruce Willis was diagnosed with Aphasia in 2022, a few months after he was diagnosed with an advanced progressive neurological disease, Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Since the announcement of his health diagnosis, the family has always given an update about his health as they engage his fans and the public.
Being sick without support is not a thing one would wish for, but for Willis, it is a different experience with his blended family—ex-wife Demi Moore, with his three daughters and his current wife, Emma Heming, with their two daughters— as they are caring for him in the best way possible.
When did Bruce Willis start showing symptoms of dementia?
Since Willis’ FTD diagnosis, Emma has stepped into the role of his main carer, and she makes sure that she shares her experience online to help other families caring for their loved ones. Recently, the proud mother of two shared how the family started noticing a change in Willis health which was in line with his FTD symptoms.
Emma shared that although Willis’ tough guy personality didn’t allow them to notice his worsening condition until he started having problems with his speech. However, not much attention was paid to that as the action star “had a severe stutter as a child.” Emma added that a theater teacher helped him overcome the issue as a child, and Willis being able to “memorize a script without stuttering” fueled his passion for acting as it became a good cover-up for him.
More on Bruce Willis’ FTD diagnosis
Research has shown that the higher centers in the brain control the speech area. However, Emma claimed she wasn’t aware of this, so she didn’t consider any possibility of his speech changes being a sign of a neurological issue. Emma also added that not knowing that young people can also suffer from dementia affected her judgment on identifying the early signs.
This went on for a few years before his eventual diagnosis with the condition in March 2023. FTD is a broad term for neurological disease affecting the brain lobes. The part of the lobe of the brain affected is what dictates the symptoms. Sadly, there is no cure for now, and being a progressive disease, rehabilitation, cognitive, and occupational therapy help to maintain the quality of life of the affected individual. In Willis’scase, he is getting all the support he needs, and the family is also raising awareness and campaigning about FTD.