The wife of Bruce Willis has recounted the concerning dementia symptoms the 70-year-old had prior to receiving his shocking diagnosis.
The family of the former action star disclosed in 2023 that he had frontotemporal degeneration (FTD).
FTD is a ‘uncommon’ form of dementia that affects the brain’s lobes behind the forehead, affecting a person’s language and conduct. Unfortunately, there is neither a treatment nor a method to limit the disease’s progression.
According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, there are currently over 55 million dementia sufferers globally, and by 2050, that number is predicted to rise to 139 million.
Emma Heming Willis revealed Bruce Willis’ first dementia symptoms began subtly—skipping school runs, becoming unusually quiet, and showing a return of his childhood stutter. His warm, affectionate nature shifted to coldness, straining their marriage. Despite decline, Emma says they still glimpse his laughter and “twinkle in his eye.”
Now, she wishes she had ‘taken the leap of faith and asked for help sooner,’ explaining, “Everything changed when I found the right information, resources, and community to lean on.”
“I began to realize that, even in my new role as a care partner, I still had agency. And with that, I started to find joy, see beauty, and choose hope.”
