Emma Heming Willis has revealed a major “misconception” about her husband Bruce Willis’ frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
During an appearance on the podcast “The Boss Sticks” on Monday, the former model explained that the “Die Hard” actor’s brain disease, which affects the frontal and temporal lobes, actually has “three different mutations.”
“The mutant that Bruce has affects language, but there’s another mutant that affects behavior and another that can affect movement,” she shared.
When asked if Bruce, 71,’s mutant condition affected his memory, Emma said: “No, it doesn’t.”
“It’s a different part of the brain. So when people say, ‘Oh, you know, does he remember who you are?’ Does he remember you?” Well, that happens because he doesn’t have Alzheimer’s. He has FTD,” Emma clarified.
“I think it’s a common misconception that when you think of dementia, you think of forgetfulness,” she added.
Emma, 47, declared that her husband knows who people are, including their five daughters.
“It’s not like Alzheimer’s disease,” she said. “While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, FTD is the most common form of dementia for people under 60.”
In March 2022, the Willis family announced that the “The Fifth Element” star would be retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. The following February, the action star’s family announced that he was battling FTD.
The Willis family (Emma, ex-wife Demi Moore, and all five of Bruce’s daughters) said at the time on the Frontotemporal Degeneration Association website: “This is painful, but we are relieved to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
“FTD is a brutal disease that many of us have never heard of, and it can affect anyone. In people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because it takes many years for a diagnosis to be made, FTD may be much more prevalent than we know,” the researchers continued.
The family said that while there was “no cure for this disease”, they were “hoping” that things would change in the coming years.
“As Bruce’s condition progresses, we hope that media attention will focus on shining a light on this disease, which requires more awareness and research,” they added.
Emma and her husband live in separate homes as The Sixth Sense star continues to battle dementia.
The author of “An Unexpected Journey” and Bruce have daughters Mabel, 14, and Evelyn, 12.
The former action star is also father to Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 32, with Moore, 63.
