In a recent interview on The Drew Barrymore Show, Tallulah Willis shared an update on her father Bruce Willis’ condition and why their family has chosen to be so open about it. For the Willis family, their decision to raise awareness about frontotemporal dementia (FTD) stems from a desire to help others facing similar challenges and to bring much-needed attention to this rare cognitive disease.
Tallulah explained, “On one hand, it’s who we are as a family. But also, it’s really important for us to spread awareness about FTD because there’s not enough information out there.” So, let’s take a closer look at Bruce Willis’ journey with FTD and why it is distinct from other types of dementia.
FTD is a form of dementia that affects a person’s behavior, unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which is commonly associated with memory loss. Tallulah shared her observations on the changes in her father’s behavior in a heartfelt essay for Vogue. She described how it began with a subtle unresponsiveness, which the family initially attributed to Hollywood’s toll on his hearing. But as time went on, the unresponsiveness became more apparent, and Tallulah sometimes couldn’t help but take it personally.
“He had had two babies with my stepmother, Emma Heming Willis, and I thought he lost interest in me,” she wrote.
Despite the challenges, the Willis family remains resilient and united. They provide regular updates on Bruce’s condition, as they believe in the power of turning their struggles into something beautiful and meaningful. Tallulah emphasized, “If we can take something that we’re struggling with as a family and individually and help other people to turn it around, to make something beautiful about it, that’s really special for us.”
At present, Bruce’s condition remains stable, which the family considers a blessing. When Tallulah spends time with her father, she still sees the love in his eyes, a reminder of the bond they share.
To Bruce and his family, we stand by you and constantly keep you in our prayers. We also want to express our gratitude for shining a light on frontotemporal dementia and inspiring others to be more aware of this debilitating condition.
