Bruce Willis' family have shared the sad news
The family of famous Hollywood actor Bruce Willis has shared the sad news about the diagnosis, which was made by doctors after further examinations.
It is about frontal temporal lobe dementia (FTD). FTD is a condition or group of disorders caused by progressive loss of nerve cells in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain. It indicates that the disease, discovered in Bruce Willis a year earlier, is progressive and his condition will worsen in the future.
As a family, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpouring of love and compassion for Bruce. Your heartfelt generosity over the past ten months has been overwhelming and we are extremely grateful for it. We know you love Bruce as much as we do, so we wanted to give you an update.
Since we announced Bruce's aphasia diagnosis in Spring 2022, Bruce's condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia. Unfortunately, communication problems are just one symptom of the illness Bruce is facing.
FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can affect anyone. In people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because it can take years to be diagnosed, FTD is probably far more common than we know. There are no treatments for the disease today, and we hope that this reality may change in the coming years. As Bruce's condition improves, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shedding light on this disease, which needs a lot more awareness and serious research.
Bruce has always believed in using his voice to help others and raise awareness of important issues both publicly and privately. Deep down, we know that if he could today, he would want to respond by bringing attention to the world and connecting with those who are also struggling with this debilitating disease.
Bruce has always found joy in living and helping everyone he knows. It was important to see that this sense of caring was now focused on him and all of us. We were so touched by the love you all shared for our dear husband, father and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding and respect will allow us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible," reads a statement signed by Bruce Willis' wife Emma, ex-wife Demi Moore and daughters Rumer Willis, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.
What happened to Bruce Willis?
Bruce Willis announced his retirement from Hollywood at the end of March 2022, citing a language communication disorder - aphasia. At the time, the Willis family marked Bruce's retirement with the following statement: "We are going through this as a close-knit family and wanted to get his fans' attention because we know how much he means as much to you as you do to him."