Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, his family confirmed Thursday.
Nearly a yr after announcing his battle with aphasia, the actor’s family, including ex-wife Demi Moore, current wife Emma Heming and his five daughters, shared a health update in a press release on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website.
“While that is painful, it’s a relief to finally have a transparent diagnosis,” the family said, noting that Willis’ condition has worsened up to now yr.
“FTD is a cruel disease that a lot of us have never heard of and might strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is essentially the most common type of dementia, and since getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is probably going far more prevalent than we all know,” they continued.
Willis, 67, retired from acting in March of 2022. His family explained on the time that Willis was “experiencing some health issues … that are impacting his cognitive abilities.”
On Thursday, they explained that the FTD is affecting Willis’ communication skills.
In keeping with the Alzheimer Society of Canada, FTD is an umbrella term for a gaggle of rare disorders that the majority often affect the parts of the brain related to personality and behavior.
Roughly 5 to 10 per cent of all dementia cases are FTD, nevertheless it makes up about 20 per cent of all young onset dementia diagnosed in those under 65.
The Alzheimer Society says that FTD could cause behaviour changes, difficulty with speech and movement, and memory loss.
Unlike in Alzheimer’s disease, nevertheless, individuals with frontotemporal dementia often remain conscious of time (for instance, what yr it’s) and memory will not be of concern within the early stages.
Within the later stages, general symptoms of dementia can arise, including confusion and forgetfulness. Motor skills are lost and swallowing difficulties occur.
While there are not any treatments for the disease, the Willis family says it’s “a reality that we hope can change within the years ahead.”
“Bruce all the time believed in using his voice on the planet to assist others, and to boost awareness about essential issues each publicly and privately. We all know in our hearts that if he could today, he would need to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those that are also coping with this debilitating disease and the way it impacts so many individuals and their families.”
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