Bruce Willis diagnosed with 'cruel disease' frontotemporal dementia, family announces

Actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, family members announced in a joint Instagram post Thursday.

The diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, a brain disorder caused by degeneration of the brain's frontal lobe, comes nearly a year after Willis' family confirmed the movie icon, now 67, was stepping away from acting due to an aphasia diagnosis.

A message posted on the Instagram accounts of wife Emma Heming Willis, ex-wife Demi Moore and daughter Rumer Willis states: "Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis."

"Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD)."

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The symptoms of FTD "Bruce faces" include "challenges with communication."

"While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis," the Instagram post states. It features a photo of Willis smiling on the beach and is signed by the "ladies of Willis/Moore."

FTD is a "cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone," the Willis family wrote in a separate statement. It is the most common form of dementia for people under 60 and "getting the diagnosis can take years."

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"Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead," the statement said. "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."

For Willis' 65th birthday, Moore, who remains close to Willis and his wife, dedicated an Instagram post to him.

"Happy birthday, Bruce! Thankful for our blended family," Moore wrote.

The actress and Willis divorced 20 years ago and share three children together: Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29. Bruce and Emma Willis share two children together: Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruce Willis frontotemporal dementia diagnosis revealed by family