Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, has provided an update on his ongoing fight with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, a condition that impairs communication. This update comes three years after Willis retired from acting due to aphasia and two years following a formal diagnosis of dementia.
In an interview with ABC News, Heming Willis described how the former action star manages daily life despite his condition.
Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know,
she said.
It’s just his brain that is failing him… 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
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Recognizing the Early Signs of Cognitive Decline
Reflecting on the moment she noticed something had changed, Heming Willis revealed that it was Bruce’s shift in social behavior that initially raised concern.
When the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit,
she said.
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
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Moments of Recognition Amidst the Struggle
Heming Willis explained that although the condition affects Bruce deeply, there are still brief instances where her husband’s former personality shines through.
Not days, but we get moments. It’s his laugh, right? Like, he has such, like, a hearty laugh. And, you know, sometimes you’ll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and, you know, I just get, like, transported. And it’s just hard to see, because as quickly as those moments appear, then it goes
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Support from Family, Friends, and Former Partners
Bruce Willis’ condition has drawn concern and support from those close to him. His longtime friend Don Johnson recently described Willis’ state as a struggle. Meanwhile, actress Demi Moore, who was married to Willis from 1987 to 2000, shared in February that despite their separation, their bond remains strong. She said,
We will always be a family, just in a different form
.
Implications and Ongoing Care Challenges
Bruce Willis aphasia battle update highlights the complexities of coping with a degenerative brain condition, emphasizing the need for patience and adjustments in communication within families. His wife’s reflections and the support from friends and former partners underscore the emotional challenges faced by those close to him, while also showing the resilience and love that persist amid these hardships. The future will likely involve continued adaptations to manage his symptoms as the disease progresses.
