SAD NEWS A Good day to die hard Bruce Willis aged 69 Diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in February that followed an aphasia diagnosis… it’s with profound sadness and heavy heart we share the sad news about Bruce, who has been confirmed to be…..see more.”

Bruce Willis diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, family says
Willis, famous for films like Die Hard, retired from acting in 2022 after suffering from the language disorder aphasia.

Nearly a year after it was announced that Bruce Willis would step away from filmmaking following being diagnosed with aphasia, the American actor’s family says his “condition has progressed”.

In a statement posted on Thursday, the 67-year-old’s family said Willis has received a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” the statement read. “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone.”

Last March, Willis’s family said his aphasia had affected his cognitive abilities. The condition causes the loss of ability to understand or express speech.

In Thursday’s statement, his family said communication challenges were just one symptom of frontotemporal dementia.

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration describes FTD as a group of brain disorders caused by degeneration of the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain that affects behaviour, language and movement.

Aphasia can be a symptom of it. The association describes frontotemporal degeneration as “an inevitable decline in functioning”, with an average life expectancy of seven to 13 years after the onset of symptoms.

“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead,” the family’s statement read, adding that it can take years to get a proper diagnosis.

“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.”