american actor Bruce Willis He suffers from frontotemporal dementia, his family announced this Thursday. His ex-wife, actress Demi Moore, has communicated through a message on her Instagram account that the popular actor has this health problem.
The family had already communicated in March 2022 that Willis was retiring from acting because he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disease that affects language. On that occasion, the family also made the announcement via Instagram. “Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is affecting his cognitive abilities. As a result and after much reflection, Bruce is stepping down from a career that has meant so much to him.” the text said.
In a statement on Instagram, the family expresses their “deepest appreciation for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories” they have received since the actor’s first diagnosis was made public. “In this spirit, we wanted to give you an update on our dear husband, father and friend, as we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing,” they explained.
“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 (known as FTD).” In the statement, the relatives added that “unfortunately, the challenges with communication are only a symptom of the disease that Bruce faces.” Although this is painful, they add, “it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
What is frontotemporal dementia suffered by Bruce Willis?
The frontotemporal dementia is a general term for a group of brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are generally associated with personality, behavior, and language.
In frontotemporal dementia, parts of these lobes shrink (atrophy). the signs and symptoms They vary, depending on which part of the brain is affected. Some people with frontotemporal dementia have dramatic personality changes and become socially inappropriate, impulsive, or emotionally indifferent, while others lose the ability to use language appropriately.
frontotemporal dementia can be misdiagnosed as a psychiatric problem or Alzheimer’s disease. However, frontotemporal dementia tends to occur at a younger age than Alzheimer’s disease. Frontotemporal dementia usually begins between the ages of 40 and 65, but it also occurs later. Frontotemporal dementia is the cause of approximately 10% to 20% of dementia cases.
