Bruce Willis' Heartbreaking Dementia Battle: Now 'Largely Non-Verbal' as Cruel Disease Progresses

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00:00Bruce Willis' Heartbreaking Dementia Battle, now largely non-verbal as cruel disease progresses.

00:07Bruce Willis' family has stuck by his side as the actor battles the brutal disease.

00:12Bruce Willis' health battle began when he was first diagnosed with aphasia,

00:16as the movie star was forced to step away from Hollywood.

00:20In March 2022, Bruce Willis' family announced his aphasia diagnosis,

00:25which was affecting his cognitive abilities, leading to his retirement from acting.

00:29In a heartfelt statement, they thanked fans for their support,

00:33calling it a challenging time and vowing to face it together as a strong family.

00:37Live it up, they quoted Bruce, promising to honor his spirit.

00:41Following Bruce Willis' retirement, reports emerged of his struggles on set,

00:45including memory issues, reliance on an earpiece for lines, and needing a body double.

00:51Crew members described him as confused and disconnected, raising concerns about his well-being.

00:56In an ABC special, wife Emma Hemming shared that Bruce, once outgoing and affectionate,

01:01had become quiet and emotionally distant, a heartbreaking shift that alarmed the family.

01:06Nearly a year after announcing Bruce Willis' aphasia diagnosis,

01:10his wife Emma Hemming confirmed in February 2023 that his condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia FTD.

01:18She called it a painful but clarifying diagnosis, noting communication struggles are just one of the disease's many challenges.

01:26The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration described FTD as a cruel disease.

01:31Bruce Willis' family shared that frontotemporal dementia has no cure,

01:36urging media attention to raise awareness and support research.

01:39They said Bruce always used his voice to help others and believe he would want to spotlight the disease

01:44and connect with those affected if he could today.