US action star Bruce Willis diagnosed with dementia

[Silverkris]

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/action-star-bruce-willis-diagnosed-with-dementia

 

Action star Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with untreatable dementia, his family said on Thursday, less than a year after he retired from acting because of growing cognitive difficulties.

The 67-year-old US actor, known for his role in the Die Hard franchise, stepped away from Hollywood in March 2022 and has been out of the limelight since then.

“Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, his condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia,” a statement from his family said.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an umbrella term for disorders affecting the areas of the brain that deal with personality, behaviour and language.

“Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces,” the family said.

“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.

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

Doctors say the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain shrink in a patient with FTD.

The cause of this is not known, but it can result in personality changes or modifications in behaviour that might make someone socially inappropriate, impulsive or apparently uncaring towards those around them.

Other sufferers lose their ability to use language.

The Mayo Clinic says FTD can begin between the ages of 40 and 65, and is the cause of up to a fifth of all dementia cases.

The family statement, signed by Willis’ current wife, Emma Heming Willis, as well as former wife, actress Demi Moore, and his children Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn, said the actor had always worked to raise awareness about important issues.

“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,” it said.

Willis has been a fixture on the small and large screen since the 1980s, coming to public prominence in the TV series Moonlighting (1985 to 1989).

But it was as hard-bitten hero John McClane in the Die Hard movies (1988 to 2013) that he became a bankable major star of the cinema, sparking a career that has generated billions of dollars in box-office revenue.

Despite the tough-guy image, he has also had much success with more family-friendly fare, and provided the voice for the baby in the popular Look Who’s Talking movies (1989 to 1993).

Another of his best-known roles was as the dead person that child actor Haley Joel Osment could see in The Sixth Sense (1999).

Reaction from the entertainment industry was swift.

“Love you so much my friend,” wrote Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul on Rumer Willis’ Instagram. “Sending hugs to you and that beautiful family of yours. Your pops is such a damn legend.”

Jumanji and Cars star Bonnie Hunt wrote on Demi Moore’s Instagram page: “An abundance of love for you dear Demi, for Bruce, for all of you.”

Willis won a Golden Globe and two Emmys during his career. AFP

[Stary]

67 only.......😢

[13177]

Getting dementia is getting younger now. 

[DOBIEMKZ]

3 minutes ago, 13177 said:

Getting dementia is getting younger now. 

If I think I got some dementia; probably I can tell wifey that I didn't come home because I forgot my way home.🤔 ...😅

[Jamesc]

Anything can happen anytime.

Live to the fullest now!

[Stratovarius]

alot of his recent movies were criticized badly. Some say he will only come for a day and shoot all the scenes and left, barely showing any interest. Now we know why. 

[Stary]

41 minutes ago, Jamesc said:

Anything can happen anytime.

Live to the fullest now!

That's why I prefer to stop working when young while I am still well and energetic. At most eat cai png only which is still  great food compare to what most other people have in famine or less develop countries.   Life is fragile, and I have seen enough of people gone in an instant.

Edited February 17, 2023 by Starry

[mersaylee]

1 hour ago, Jamesc said:

Anything can happen anytime.

Live to the fullest now!

My silent quitting is getting louder each day...😁

[Lala81]

"Yippee Kai yay mofo!"

 

[Jamesc]

Support

1 hour ago, Starry said:

That's why I prefer to stop working when young while I am still well and energetic. At most eat cai png only which is still  great food compare to what most other people have in famine or less develop countries.   Life is fragile, and I have seen enough of people gone in an instant.

 

[Fcw75]

Dementia is a cruel disease. You see their life been taken away slowly day by day. 

Edited February 17, 2023 by Fcw75

[Fcw75]

1 hour ago, Starry said:

That's why I prefer to stop working when young while I am still well and energetic. At most eat cai png only which is still  great food compare to what most other people have in famine or less develop countries.   Life is fragile, and I have seen enough of people gone in an instant.

If young, well and energetic you should be travelling to see the world instead of eating cai png everyday. 😅

[Ender]

Didn't drink enough coffee.

[mersaylee]

14 minutes ago, Ender said:

Didn't drink enough coffee.

Liddat I won't have...or issit true..?😂

[mersaylee]

16 minutes ago, Fcw75 said:

If young, well and energetic you should be travelling to see the world instead of eating cai png everyday. 😅

Sekali those that he saw gone in an instant were oversea...🙊

[PSP415]

Thief of memories. 😔

Maybe in future, can download lost data into brain. 

 

[Voodooman]

Must be due to Covid vaccination, according to vaccine skeptics.  🤣😂🤣

[Fcw75]

5 minutes ago, Voodooman said:

Must be due to Covid vaccination, according to vaccine skeptics.  🤣😂🤣

Could be due to Covid infection. 🤣