After learning that Bruce Willis has aphasia, his family issued a formal statement about his health in 2022. “As a family, we felt compelled to inform you that our dear Bruce has been dealing with health issues and has now been diagnosed with aphasia, affecting his cognitive functioning.
As a result of this and with great thought, Bruce is leaving the career that has meant so much to him,” a statement from the family on Instagram stated. “Our family is currently going through a very difficult time, so we are grateful for all of your love, compassion, and support.”
Aphasia is a condition that impairs a person’s ability to communicate, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Willis has avoided the media for the most part since his diagnosis, but his family has posted various updates on him, and he has appeared in images on social media.
Bruce’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, posted a video of him playing basketball on her Instagram stories in May 2022. Bruce appeared content as he posed for photos with his wife at an “off the grid” event they shared on social media.
Bruce’s daughter Rumer Willis has provided a sobering update on her father’s condition and the family’s plans nearly a year later.
Bruce Willis’ family claims they now have a “deeper understanding” of what he is going through following the initial aphasia diagnosis. Rumer Willis, the actor’s daughter from “Die Hard,” wrote in an Instagram caption:
“Since we announced Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis in the spring of 2022, his condition has progressed, and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia.”
“Unfortunately, Bruce’s communication difficulties are only one manifestation of his illness. Despite the discomfort, getting a definitive diagnosis is a relief,” she added.
In an article published on the website of the Association for Frontotemporal Dementia Degeneration, FTD is referred to as the most common type of dementia in people under the age of 60.
According to the family, there is no known cure for the condition, which will only worsen in the coming weeks. According to Johns Hopkins, FTD is not a life-threatening disorder, and that people can live with its symptoms for many years.
However, the condition can cause pneumonia, increased infection risk, and “fall-related injuries.” Bruce’s immediate family, which includes his wife Emma Heming Willis, daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn Willis, as well as his ex-wife Demi Moore, are all behind him.
