Bruce Willis' family has announced that the action star has been diagnosed with untreatable dementia, less than a year after he retired from acting due to growing cognitive difficulties.
Charities say that the announcement by the 67-year-old actor’s family will help "shine a light" on the disease, also known as FTD, and "encourage others to seek advice".
Last year Willis’s family revealed he had been diagnosed with the cognitive condition aphasia, and would be stepping back from his acting career.
In a post shared on Instagram on Thursday, his daughter Rumer offered an update on her father’s health, confirming his condition had "progressed" and he had been given the "more specific" diagnosis of FTD.
The family expressed their "deepest gratitude" for the "outpouring of love" they had received since the announcement about his aphasia diagnosis.
His daughter Rumer, who Willis shares with his former partner, actress Demi Moore, wrote: "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.
"In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.
"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.
"Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis."
FTD is an umbrella term for a group of dementias that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are responsible for such things as personality, behaviour, language and speech.
It is caused by clumps of abnormal protein forming inside brain cells, which are thought to damage the cells and stop them from working properly.
It's not yet understood why this happen, but there is often a genetic link. Around one in eight people who get frontotemporal dementia have relatives who were also affected by the condition.
According to the HSE, signs of frontotemporal dementia can include a wide range of personality and behavioural changes, language problems, problems with mental abilities, memory problems, and physical problems.
The HSE says that frontotemporal dementia is an "uncommon" form of the disease.
Although dementia mostly affects people over 65, frontotemporal dementia tends to start at a younger age, with most cases diagnosed in people aged 45 to 65, although it can also affect younger or older people.
There's no single test for FTS, so patients will usually have different tests and assessments to diagnose or rule out frontotemporal dementia
The family statement added: "Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately.
"We know in our hearts that – if he could today – he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families."
The statement was signed by members of Willis’s family, including his wife Emma Heming, former wife Moore and his daughters.
Willis has starred in hit films including the Die Hard series, Pulp Fiction, Armageddon, Moonrise Kingdom, 12 Monkeys and Looper.
He has five daughters, sharing his three eldest – Rumer, Scout and Tallulah – with Moore who he married in 1987. Despite separating in 2000, the pair remain on amicable terms.
Willis went on to marry actress Heming in 2009. They have two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.
