Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD for short, is a type of dementia that Bruce Willis' family has revealed the actor has.

The 67-year-old star's family said in a statement released on Thursday that while the news is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.

Bruce Willis' Dementia

In 2022, Willis' family which includes his wife Emma Heming Willis, ex-wife Demi Moore, and daughters first made his aphasia diagnosis public. At the time, it was announced that Willis would be taking a break from acting because of a medical condition that was impairing his cognitive function.

"There are currently no cures for the illness, which the family expressed hope will change in the years to come. We hope that any media coverage can be directed toward bringing awareness to this disease, which requires a great deal more research and awareness as Bruce Willis' condition worsens," according to his Family.

Willis' family claimed in March of last year that his aphasia had hampered his cognitive functioning, as per AP News. The illness results in a loss of speech comprehension and expression. In a statement released on Thursday, his family mentioned that difficulty communicating was just one of the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia.

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What is Frontotemporal Dementia?

According to CBS News, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration defines FTD as a group of brain disorders that affect behavior, language, and movement and are brought on by degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain. It may manifest as aphasia. According to the association, frontotemporal degeneration has an unavoidable decline in functioning and a median survival time of seven to thirteen years following the onset of symptoms.

Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife, Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn, all signed the statement, which was published on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration's website.

Mabel and Evelyn are the daughters of Willis and Heming Willis. He shares fatherhood with Moore for the daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. Rumer Willis and her boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas are expecting their first child.

Meanwhile, over the course of a four-decade career, Willis' films brought in more than $5 billion at international box offices. The prolific actor, who is well-known for films like 'Die Hard' and 'The Sixth Sense,' has recently starred mainly in direct-to-video thrillers.

The third film in the suspenseful 'Detective Knight' series, 'Detective Knight: Independence,' was released in January 2023, and it is Bruce Willis' most recent acting project, as per Telegraph via MSN.

Additionally, the action film 'Assassin' is due out next month. According to the Mayo Clinic, a group of brain disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are referred to as frontotemporal dementia, or FTD. These brain regions are linked to language, behavior, and personality.

According to Johns Hopkins, FTD affects both sexes equally and typically manifests between the ages of 40 and 65. As per the Mayo Clinic, it is the root cause of 10% to 20% of dementia cases. Willis' previous diagnosis, which forced him to retire from acting at age 67, was revealed by the actor's family in March.

In a statement at the time, Willis' family said, "This is a really difficult time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion, and support. We are dealing with this as a strong family unit, and we wanted to invite his fans because we are aware of how important they are to both of you."

Willis is best known for his lead performance in the 'Die Hard' action series as John McClane. Over the course of a more than 40-year career, he has made numerous film appearances, including '12 Monkeys,' 'Moonrise Kingdom,' and 'Pulp Fiction,' in addition to the well-known 1980s TV series 'Moonlighting.'

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