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Bruce Willis diagnosed with dementia, family says 

“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” the statement from his family said

Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis | Shutterstock

February 17, 2023 8:05am

Updated: February 17, 2023 8:05am

Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with a form of dementia, his family announced in a statement on Thursday. 

The 69-year-old actor is suffering from frontotemporal dementia (FTD for short), which primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain—the areas associated with personality, behavior, and language.   

“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” the statement from his family said. “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and [which] can strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know.”

“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research,” it continued.

Willis’ family announced that the actor had been diagnosed with aphasia and was suffering from a condition that was affecting his cognitive abilities in 2022.

“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately,” his family’s new statement said. 

“We know in our hearts that – if he could today – he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.”

Willis is known for his roles in the Die Hard franchise, Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Last Boy Scout, among others.