Key Takeaways
Action star Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
He previously had been diagnosed with aphasia, but it seems his condition has declined.
Frontotemporal dementia can cause mood changes, a decrease in communication, and withdrawal.
Actor Bruce Willis, 67, has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, according to multiple news sources. Last year, the action star was diagnosed with aphasia, and it seems his condition has worsened.
Frontotemporal dementia is caused by nerve damage to the frontal lobes of the brain. Unlike dementia, frontotemporal dementia begins to develop earlier between the ages of 40 and 65. It also is estimated to only impact upwards of 60,000 people in the United States.[] []
Frontotemporal dementia differs from Alzheimer's. While speech issues may be a symptom found in both conditions, those with frontotemporal dementia have trouble being understood or struggle to find words versus trouble with remembering or recalling a word.[]
In conjunction, frontotemporal dementia has the following symptoms[]:
A lack of self-awareness
Communication issues
Emotional withdraw
Mood fluctuation
Actress Demi Moore, and ex-wife of Willis, made a statement on her Instagram yesterday. "Since we announced Bruce's diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce's condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis."
Willis has been in recent movies, including “Detective Knight: Independence,” which was released this year.[]