Actor Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia. What’s it? : NPR
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Bruce Willis attends a film premiere in New York on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Practically a yr after Bruce Willis’ household introduced that he would step away from performing after being identified with aphasia, his household says his “situation has progressed.” In an announcement posted Thursday, his household stated Willis has a extra particular analysis of frontotemporal dementia.
Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
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Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Bruce Willis attends a film premiere in New York on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Practically a yr after Bruce Willis’ household introduced that he would step away from performing after being identified with aphasia, his household says his “situation has progressed.” In an announcement posted Thursday, his household stated Willis has a extra particular analysis of frontotemporal dementia.
Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Actor Bruce Willis has been identified with dementia, evolving from a earlier analysis of aphasia final spring, his household introduced Thursday.
Extra particularly, Willis has frontotemporal dementia, which may embrace aphasia, which brings challenges with talking and writing.
“Sadly, challenges with communication are only one symptom of the illness Bruce faces,” his household stated. “Whereas that is painful, it’s a aid to lastly have a transparent analysis.”
Willis’s household stated final yr the actor could be stepping away from his decades-long profession because of his impaired cognition.
What’s frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia, also called FTD, is one in all a number of kinds of dementia and causes nerve harm within the frontal and temporal lobes, which ends up in a lack of operate in these areas, in response to the Alzheimer’s Affiliation.
There are several types of frontotemporal dementia. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia causes nerve loss within the areas of the mind that management empathy, judgment and conduct.
Main progressive aphasia deteriorates elements of the mind that management talking, writing and comprehension. The onset of signs usually begins earlier than age 65, however can happen later.
FTD may also disrupt motor operate and motion, which might be categorized as Lou Gehrig’s illness, also called ALS.
How is FTD completely different from Alzheimer’s?
Prognosis of FTD tends to occur between an individual of their 40s and 60s, whereas Alzheimer’s occurs at a later age. Alzheimer’s can also be extra intently tied to hallucinations, reminiscence loss and points with spatial orientation, akin to getting misplaced.
Remedy and analysis
Medical doctors use mind imaging expertise, akin to MRIs, to diagnose FTD. The outcomes are analyzed in tandem with a affected person’s medical historical past and signs. About 30% of individuals with frontotemporal degeneration inherit the illness; there are not any recognized danger components.
There are drugs that may assist relieve signs, however the illness finally will get worse with time.
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