Emma Heming clarifies major 'misconception' about Bruce Willis' dementia battle

Emma Heming Willis clarified a common misconception about her husband Bruce Willis' frontotemporal dementia during an appearance on "The Bossticks" podcast Monday. She explained FTD has three different variants: the one Bruce has affects language, while other variants affect behavior or movement.

When asked whether his variant affects memory, she replied, "No, it doesn't." Emma noted that memory involves a different part of the brain, so Bruce does not have Alzheimer's but FTD. She said people often equate dementia with memory loss, which can lead to misunderstanding, and added that he knows who people are, including his five daughters.

In March 2022 the Willis family announced he would step away from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia, and the following February they said he was battling FTD. The family posted on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website that while the news is painful, it was a relief to have a clear diagnosis.

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