Bruce Willis’ Wife Reveals ‘His Brain Is Failing Him’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 11: Bruce Willis and wife Emma Heming Willis attend the “Motherless Brooklyn” Arrivals during the 57th New York Film Festival on October 11, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Film at Lincoln Center)

By Kayla DeKraker

Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis shared an update with his fans about the actor’s ongoing battle with frontotemporal dementia.

“Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know. It’s just his brain that is failing him,” she told ABC News’ Dianne Sawyer in a recent interview.

Heming Willis explained that they’ve learned how to “adapt” and communicate in a new way.

“The language is going, and, you know, we’ve learned to adapt. And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a… different way.”

Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia back in 2023, a progression from his aphasia diagnosis in 2022.

Related: Bruce Willis ‘Not Totally Verbal’ But ‘Still Bruce,’ Friend Says

Alzheimers.gov defines frontotemporal dementia as “a group of disorders that gradually damage the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. These damages cause changes in thinking and behaviors. Symptoms can include unusual behaviors, emotional problems, trouble communicating, challenges with work, and difficulty with walking.”

The average onset of the condition is between 45 and 64.

Before the diagnosis, Willis’ wife noticed something was off, revealing he was quieter than usual and added that “When the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit.”

She added, “He felt a little removed, very cold. Not like Bruce, who is very warm and affectionate. To go in the complete opposite of that was alarming and scary.”

Thankfully, Willis still recognizes and shows love toward his wife and family.

“I feel he does, right? Like, he, I know he does,” Heming Willis said. “You know, when we are with him…he lights up, right? He’s holding our hands. We’re kissing him. We’re hugging him. He is reciprocating. You know, he is into it.”

She added, “And so that’s all I need, you know? I don’t need him to know that I am his wife, and we were married on this day, and this is what it — I don’t need any of that. I just wanna feel that I have a connection with him. And I do.”

Upon his diagnosis in 2023, the family said in a statement, “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.”

Now, over two years into her journey as a caregiver, Heming Willis wrote a book titled The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path to encourage other caregivers of those with dementia and similar conditions.

“This isn’t about me or Bruce; it’s way bigger than that,” she said of the book on Instagram. “It’s about raising the voice of caregivers, breaking the stigma around dementia and shining a light on what millions of families face every day, often with little to no support.”

The book is available for pre-order and officially goes on sale on Sept. 9.

Continue to pray for Willis and his family as they navigate this challenging time.

Read Next: Emma Heming Willis Spotlights Caregivers After Gene Hackman, Wife’s Deaths

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