Bruce Willis fights dementia, sometimes doesn’t recognize his mother

Famous Hollywood actor Bruce Willis is battling frontotemporal dementia. The actor’s family members announced the diagnosis on Instagram: wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore and daughters.

Those suffering from this disease experience difficulties in communication and behavioral changes. The actor, who previously announced his retirement and retired from acting due to aphasia (a disorder that affects the ability to communicate), had a number of symptoms associated with frontotemporal dementia. It is a rare and debilitating neurological disorder that has devastated the health of a movie star who has left a bright mark on American cinema.

Wilfrid Glim, the actor’s mother’s cousin, recently told Bild that his behavior is becoming increasingly sluggish and he is no longer able to carry on a normal conversation. His mother Marlene is not sure if he recognizes her. These are common symptoms of a disease that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, causing a range of behavioral and language problems. The state affects behavior, emotions, problem solving, planning.

The family of Bruce Willis, amid regret over the health of the actor, expressed relief at the fact that an accurate diagnosis had finally been made. Those close to the actor stressed the need for greater awareness about frontotemporal dementia and its impact on people’s lives. Rumer Glenn Willis, eldest daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, wrote in her post:

“Our family wanted to start this message by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support, and wonderful stories we have received since sharing Bruce’s initial diagnosis. In the spirit of this, we wanted to update you on our beloved husband, father and friend as we now have a deeper understanding of what he is going through. Since we announced his diagnosis of aphasia in the spring of 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, communication problems are only one of the symptoms of the illness he is dealing with. Although it is painful, finally getting a clear diagnosis is a relief. FTD is a brutal disease that many of us have never heard of, and it can affect anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and since diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more common than we know. Today there is no cure for this disease, and we hope that the reality may change in the coming years. As Bruce’s condition progresses, we hope that media attention can be focused on shedding light on this disease, which requires much more awareness and research.”

Despite the difficulties they face, the family is determined to support Bruce in every way possible during this difficult time. The daughter addressed her father’s fans, expressing his opinion, quotes CNN Greece:

“Bruce has always used his voice to help others and raise awareness of important issues both publicly and privately. We know deep down that, if he could today, he would want to respond by getting the world’s attention and connecting with those who are also struggling with this debilitating disease and how it affects so many people and their families. We have only one family with a loved one suffering from FTD and we encourage others with the condition to seek out the information and support available through AFTD (The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration)”.

According to the artist’s family, his condition is gradually deteriorating, and there are no effective methods of treatment at the moment. With such a diagnosis, people live for about 5-7 years, but the family of Bruce Willis does not lose hope for the best:

“We hope that this may change in the coming years. Bruce’s condition is changing and we hope that media attention will be focused on telling the public more about this disease.”

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