Expert explains how dementia can change your behavior as Bruce Willis' wife confirms they're now living separately
An expert has broken down the ways in which dementia can affect behavior as Bruce Willis continues to live with the condition after he announced his diagnosis in 2023.
Willis, who is now 70 years old, has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD); a rarer form of dementia in comparison to more well known types like Alzheimer’s disease. ‘Frontotemporal’ refers to the two areas of the brain that are most affected; the frontal lobes at the front, and the temporal lobes around the sides.
After establishing a hugely successful career in Hollywood with roles in films like Die Hard and The Sixth Sense, Willis was flooded with well-wishes from fans and his family have responded by sharing frequent updates about his condition.
In a recent interview with ABC News, Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, explained that the actor has now moved out of the family home he previously shared with Emma and their younger children, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.
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Why has Bruce Willis moved out?
Emma explained in the interview that Willis is still in 'really great health overall', assuring he's still 'very mobile', however there's just one part of his body that is 'failing him' - his brain.
He's starting to lose his language, and Emma said the family now only get 'moments' where they see his true personality.
"It's his laugh, right? He has such a hearty laugh," she said. "And sometimes you'll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and I just get transported."
However, just as quickly as those moments appear, they disappear.
As the family continue to adapt to Willis' dementia, Emma explained that Willis is now living in a separate house and described the decision as one of the 'hardest' that the family has made.
However, she made clear that the father 'would want' it for their daughters.
"He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs," she said.
How does frontotemporal dementia change your behavior?
Simon Wheeler, Senior Knowledge Officer for Health at Alzheimer’s Society, has explained that FTD mostly causes problems with thinking and language, but it can also impact mood, personality and behavior.
There are two main types of FTD, the most common of which is behavioral variant FTD, which mostly affects thinking and behavior. The other is primary progressive aphasia, which mostly affects a person’s ability to use language. It's this latter type that Willis has been diagnosed with.
Wheeler explained that these changes to behavior and personality, difficulties with using language, or both, are usually the first notable symptoms of FTD.
Noticeable changes in a person with behavioural variant FTD may include:
- A struggle to focus and becoming easily distracted
- Finding it difficult to think things through, such as planning, solving problems and making decisions
- losing motivation to do things they used to enjoy
- behaving in socially inappropriate ways or acting without thinking
- losing the ability to understand what others might be thinking or feeling
- showing repetitive or obsessive behaviors
Meanwhile, changes in someone with primary progressive aphasia may include:
- Losing memory and understanding of words, leading over time to a smaller vocabulary
- Speaking more slowly or effortfully, or putting words together in a way that doesn’t make sense
- Using shorter, simpler sentences with long gaps
- Having difficulty physically speaking
How can loved ones adapt following a diagnosis?
Wheeler noted that someone with behavioral variant FTD may not realize they have dementia, or even that they're behaving differently from anyone else.
Being able to recognize this lack of understanding can help loved ones live with someone with FTD, allowing them to accept that any potentially rude or hurtful behavior is not intentional.
The expert also shared advice when in a social setting with someone with FTD, saying:
- Try and remove any potential triggers, such as noisy or crowded environments
- Distract the person with FTD – such as asking them about a completely different topic
- Explain to other people that the person has dementia. Some people with dementia use helpcards to show they have difficulties and advise members of the community how they can help them.
Topics: Bruce Willis, Celebrity, Dementia, Health, Mental Health
Emily Brown