Almost one year after Bruce Willis’s family announced he would give up acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, his family has revealed his “condition has progressed".
In a statement posted on Thursday, the 67-year-old actor’s family said Willis now has a more-specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.
The statement was posted on the website for the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and signed by Willis’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife, Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.
“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” their statement read.
“Frontotemporal dementia is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and [it] can strike anyone.”
In March 2022, Willis’s family said his aphasia had affected his cognitive abilities.
So does that mean they're related? And does one lead to the other? Let's breakdown the two conditions.
What is aphasia?
Johns Hopkins University cognitive scientist Brenda Rapp — who works with people with the condition — says the disorder leads to problems with speaking, reading and writing.
"You can imagine how frustrating it is if you can't find words, if you can't organise words into sentences, if you can't get your mouth to produce the sounds you want it to produce," Professor Rapp says.
Aphasia impacts a person's language skills, not the ideas and thoughts behind them.
"You are still yourself … but you may not sound like yourself."
What causes it?
For most people, aphasia is caused by a stroke that has cut off blood to part of the brain, according to the Australian Aphasia Association.
Other causes include head injury, tumours, migraines, seizures, or brain infections and inflammation.
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia causes progressive damage to either or both the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain, according to Dementia Australia.
It can affect one or more of the following: behaviour, personality, language and movement.
Dementia Australia says there are several different types of frontotemporal dementia, with symptoms depending on which areas of the brain are affected first.
In Thursday’s statement, Willis's family said communication challenges were just one symptom of frontotemporal dementia.
Frontotemporal dementia is progressive and affects everyone differently, meaning symptoms may be mild at first but will worsen over time.
Does aphasia lead to frontotemporal dementia?
While aphasia and dementia are different conditions on the surface, aphasia is often a symptom of dementia.
When the temporal lobes are affected first, there is a loss of language skills.
This is known as primary progressive aphasia, according to Dementia Australia.
In this type of frontotemporal dementia, other aspects of thinking, perception and behaviour are not affected as much in the early stages.
What treatment is available?
There are no treatments available to cure or slow disease progression, Dementia Australia says.
“Today, there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead,” the family’s statement read, adding that it can take years to get a proper diagnosis.
“As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.”
Several clinical trials are currently underway in Australia and around the world.
Various therapies can help with some of the symptoms, such as changes in behaviour and language:
- Talking to a counsellor or psychologist can help manage changes in behaviour and mood
- Occupational therapy can help improve everyday functioning at home
- Speech therapy can help people with semantic dementia and progressive, non-fluent aphasia to develop alternative communication methods.
Willis 'always found joy in life'
Over a four-decade career, Willis’s movies had earned more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office.
While beloved for hits such as Die Hard and The Sixth Sense, the prolific actor had, in recent years, primarily featured in direct-to-video thrillers.
“Bruce has always found joy in life — and has helped everyone he knows to do the same,” the family said.
“We have been so moved by the love you have all shared for our dear husband, father and friend during this difficult time. Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible.”
ABC/AP/Reuters
