Emma Heming Willis has shared insights about her husband, Bruce Willis, and his journey with dementia, noting he hasn’t realized the extent of his diagnosis.
The Willis family revealed in 2022 that the iconic actor was diagnosed with aphasia, a condition impacting communication abilities.
A year later, Bruce Willis, now 70, received a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
According to the Mayo Clinic, FTD encompasses a variety of brain disorders affecting the frontal and temporal lobes, areas associated with personality, behavior, and language.
FTD often presents at a younger age than Alzheimer’s disease, typically affecting individuals between 40 and 65 years old. Willis was diagnosed at 67.
Emma, the wife of the Die Hard star, has been open about his health journey, frequently updating fans on his condition.
During a recent chat with Cameron Oaks Rogers on her podcast, The Unexpected Journey, Emma disclosed that Bruce is not aware of his dementia diagnosis, mentioning he has never fully understood he has the disease, which she describes as a mixed blessing.
She expressed: “I think that’s like the blessing and the curse of this, is that he never connected the dots that he had this disease, and I’m really happy about that.”
“I’m really happy that he doesn’t know about it,” she added.
Cameron, acknowledging the impact of dementia on personal identity and memory, questioned Emma: “When you’re with Bruce, do you ever tap into this moment where you feel like it’s still him because he knows who you are?”
“Yeah, he’s still very much present in his body,” Emma responded. “His disease, for the most part, is a slow progression. So we have progressed along with him. We have adapted along with him.”
Emma clarified: “When someone says to me ‘Does Bruce still know who you are?’ – yes he does because he doesn’t have Alzheimer’s. He had FTD.”
While memory issues are an early indicator of Alzheimer’s, they are not initially present in FTD but can arise as the disease advances.
Emma reflected on their connection: “He has a way of connecting with me, our children that might not be the same as you would connect with your loved one, but it’s still very beautiful.”
“It’s still very meaningful. It’s just — it’s just different. You just learn how to adapt,” she added.
If you are affected by the issues in this article and want to talk to someone confidentially, the Alzheimer’s Association offers a 24/7 helpline at 800.272.3900. Alternatively, there are additional contact methods available on their website.