When Hollywood actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, it came as a shock to fans and his family. Now, Willis’ wife, Emma Heming, has stepped forward, revealing in a recent interview that “it’s hard to know” if Bruce is aware of his condition.
Willis and Heming have been married since 2009 and have two daughters together, Mabel and Evelyn who are very aware of their father’s situation.
In March 2022, Willis announced his retirement from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia which later developed into frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This form of dementia is caused by damage to the frontal and temporal lobes in the brain which leads to difficulty in speaking, understanding language and making decisions among other symptoms.
It typically takes four years for FTD victims to be properly diagnosed because they may experience changes in behavior or mobility that could be mistaken for other diseases such as depression or Parkinson’s disease.
Emma Heming shared that she is learning how difficult this disease is on not only those affected but also on their families. She told Hoda Kotb during an appearance on the Today show that communicating openly about Bruce’s diagnosis was essential for their children so there would be no stigma or shame associated with it.
She also said that it’s teaching them how to care for someone living with dementia while still acknowledging the sadness around it: “It’s a beautiful thing amongst the sadness.”
Susan Dickinson joined Heming during her appearance on Today and provided background information about FTD as well as why it can take so long for proper diagnosis.
We hope Bruce Willis will continue receiving all the necessary support throughout this difficult time from his family members, fans, friends and doctors.
A representative for Willis did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding his health status at this time.
