In 2023, Bruce Willis’ family announced on social media that specialists had finally reached a diagnosis for the actor: he suffers from frontotemporal dementia. A disorder for which there is no treatment, and which is making the protagonist of Die Hard worse at a faster rate than his family would like.
The actor barely recognizes anyone at this point, and his family spends every day as best they can, trying to remember the Bruce Willis they love so much and for whom they continue to fight. Demi Moore, ex-wife of the interpreter and mother of her three oldest daughters, wanted to make an important reflection on this moment they are experiencing as a family, in the hope that she will help others in the same situation.
The actress was a guest on the radio program Radio Andy with Andy Cohen, along with her colleagues from the series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, when asked about how they were coping as a family with Bruce Willis’ illness and what message she had for people with family members suffering from dementia.
The actress then wanted to make a correct reflection, which undoubtedly escapes many people when they are unfortunately forced to face this situation: we must learn to forget.
“I think the most important thing is that you have to meet them where they are. When you let go of who they have been or who they think they should be; or even who you would like them to be, then you can really stay in the present. “You can absorb the joy and love, be there for who they are and not for everything they are not,” said the actress.
Moore is very aware of the health of her former husband, but also the state of the actor’s current wife, Emma Heming; as well as the actor’s five daughters: Rumer (35), Scout (32), Tallulah (29), Mabel (11) and Evelyn (9). All of them have united around the protagonist of The Sixth Sense and give strength to each other.
Frontotemporal dementia is a generic term that encompasses a group of brain disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Signs and symptoms vary depending on which part of the brain is affected, but the most common are personality changes, impulsivity, apathy, loss of empathy, repetitive or compulsive behaviors, and changes in diet.
In 2021, the actor received a first diagnosis of aphasia, a cognitive disorder that prevents a person from correctly understanding language; after which his family announced that he would temporarily retire from the world of acting.
“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately,” his family said after his diagnosis. “We know in our hearts that if I could today, I would want to have a connection with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it affects so many people and their families.”
