Bruce Willis’ Aphasia Diagnosis Progresses to Frontotemporal Dementia, Says Family

The family of Bruce Willis has provided an update on the actor’s heath, announcing that he has been diagnosed with a form of dementia called frontotemporal dementia, or FTD for short.

This comes after it was announced in spring 2022 that the 67-year-old had been diagnosed with aphasia and would retire from acting.

Willis’ latest diagnosis was shared in a statement Thursday.

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“Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis. In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing,” the statement read.

“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.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, frontotemporal dementia “umbrella term for a group of brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.” It can be characterized by personality changes, speech difficulty and motor impairment.