Dementia

Family of Die Hard and Pulp Fiction actor, 67, releases statement to share diagnosis following acting retirement owing to aphasia.

[instituted a category](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/mar/26/razzies-diana-the-musical-jared-leto-lebron-james-bruce-willis) for “worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie”. The family also called for more awareness and understanding of frontotemporal dementia. “Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. The 67-year-old was also the lead in several family comedies, most notably voicing a baby on Look Who’s Talking and its sequel. The statement continued: “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and [which] can strike anyone. [statement](https://www.theaftd.org/mnlstatement23/?fbclid=PAAaYZ2Rcpq5lg7sFScfzRAEAE1tBKaQxln-povJgksTUBJYQfXhT4vA2qe-0) posted to the website for the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, the Die Hard actor’s family – wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore and daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn – revealed Willis’s aphasia had progressed into a diagnosis of dementia.

Actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, his family said on Thursday, nearly a year after the "Die Hard" franchise star retired ...

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life. It ...

“As a family, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpouring of love and compassion for Bruce over the past ten months. Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible. 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. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research. For your kindness, and because we know you love Bruce as much as we do, we wanted to give you an update. It isn’t a specific disease, but several diseases can cause dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic in the US.

Relatives of the 67-year-old Hollywood actor previously said that he would be “stepping away” from his successful career after being diagnosed with aphasia, ...

“As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.” “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone,” their statement read. “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.

There are two main variants of FTD: primary progressive aphasia, which hampers a patient's ability to communicate, and behavioral variant frontotemporal ...

Dickinson said. Miller said. Grant said. Physicians often work with the families or loved ones of people with FTD to develop a care plan, which can include safeguards to make sure they cannot hurt themselves or their loved ones. There is no cure — “but there’s a difference between a disease not having a cure and saying, ‘There’s nothing we can do,’” he said. Speech therapy can also be a tool to help these patients, Dr. There are a few ways to distinguish between a psychiatric condition and FTD, though: Frontotemporal dementia typically affects people in their 50s and 60s, and it is unusual, although not impossible, he said, for people to develop a new psychiatric disorder at that age without a previous history of mental health concerns. People with FTD often struggle with organizational skills, failing to multitask or plan. Those with the behavioral variant of FTD may act out of character, said Dr. There are roughly 50,000 people in the United States with a diagnosis of FTD, she added, although many experts consider that number to be a vast undercount, because of how challenging it can be to diagnose. “It hits the parts of the brain that make us the most human,” said Dr. “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone,” the family wrote in a [statement](https://www.theaftd.org/mnlstatement23/?utm_source=Instagram&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MNL23).

Feb 16, 2023. Contributor: Wajd Alkabbani, MSc, PhD-candidate. The risk for dementia associated with hypoglycemia was consistently more than doubled in both ...

“Physicians can identify those at high risk for hypoglycemia and discuss potential tradeoffs between the intensity of diabetes therapy and avoidance of severe hypoglycemic events. “From an epidemiology perspective, I hope to see future studies assess how hypoglycemia interacts with other cardiometabolic risk factors for dementia, such as stroke,” Alkabbani says. This included changing the age cutoff, lag period, and hypoglycemia definition used to define the cohorts. “However, it was surprising to see that the association was consistent whether hypoglycemia occurred in mid- or late-life. This was robust even after the study team employed several subgroup and sensitivity analyses and used various methodologies. [stroke](https://www.physiciansweekly.com/temporal-trends-in-mortality-and-provision-of-intensive-care-in-younger-women-and-men-with-acute-myocardial-infarction-or-stroke/), [menopause](https://www.physiciansweekly.com/systemic-hormone-therapy-during-menopause-may-up-risk-for-depression/), or even [diabetes](https://www.physiciansweekly.com/healthy-lifestyle-plasma-metabolites-and-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease-among-individuals-with-diabetes/) itself, have considered the potential impact of age at occurrence.

'As Bruce's condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and ...

The family said that they hoped Willis’ diagnosis at the age of 67 would bring more focus to battling FTD. Sending hugs to you and that beautiful family of yours. Your pops is such damn legend,” “Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul wrote.

FTD is a category of dementias that specifically affects the brain's frontal and temporal lobes and is the most common form of dementia in those younger ...

[Normal marital hatred](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/09/23/marriage-relationships-conflict/?itid=lb_read-more-from-wellbeing_3) is real, and here are some ways to respond to it. [anxious](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/09/13/mental-health-hope-fatigue-coping/?itid=lb_read-more-from-wellbeing_6) about them. [sitting all day](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/09/14/meet-active-couch-potato-how-sitting-all-day-can-erase-workout/?itid=lb_read-more-from-wellbeing_5) can cause health problems. “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone.” [coffee or tea](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/interactive/2022/coffee-vs-tea-nutrition-health/?itid=lb_read-more-from-wellbeing_4) better for you? [FTD](https://www.theaftd.org/posts/all-us-states/what-is-frontotemporal-dementia-the-disease-bruce-willis-is-diagnosed-with/)), a rare type of [dementia](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/10/31/dementia-rates-black-americans/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2), his family [announced](https://www.theaftd.org/mnlstatement23/) Thursday.

Actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell damage in the brain.

“Sure, you’ve lost some skills because of the illness you have, but you still have lots of skills left and you work with the skills you have.” “I’ve seen patients who completely lose their speech and yet they go out and take their camera and take beautiful photographs of the lives they’re living. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, there are no current therapies to slow down the progression of FTD. Initial signs may include the inability to control movements, or issues with balance and walking. [ in a statement.](https://www.theaftd.org/mnlstatement23/?utm_source=Instagram&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MNL23) “Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. We will do some blood tests to make sure we’re not missing some treatable causes of cognitive impairment like thyroid disease or vitamin B12 deficiency as well,” he said. “And oftentimes, we also will do brain metabolism imaging,” Paulson said. “Aphasia really means problems with language, and that can vary from having trouble finding your words to understanding what people say. The condition typically strikes between the ages of 45 and 64, Because his symptoms began with difficulty speaking, Bruce Willis would be classified as having a type of FTD called primary progressive aphasia, said Dr. Over time, they may fail to recognize familiar faces and objects. People with FTD typically live six to eight years with the condition, according to the US National Institute on Aging.

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

“Sending hugs to you and that beautiful family of yours. “Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces,” the family statement said. The 67-year-old US actor known for his role in the “Die Hard” franchise stepped away from Hollywood in March and has been out of the limelight since then.

Dr. Shelley de la Vega, director of the Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said dementia is an umbrella term for loss of memory, ...

- Late Stage: The person who has dementia becomes nearly dependent and inactive. Family members and caregivers should also be more aware or attuned to their emotions and feelings. However, some steps might be beneficial in preventing it, such as: “Providing care for someone with dementia can put one at increased risk for significant physical and mental health problems,” said Dr. Anaksil said patients develop severe symptoms after acute infection with COVID-19. “Try to be strong. Meanwhile, last year, WHO released a toolkit that promotes the inclusion of people with dementia in society. “While there is still insight, they realize their failing memory, difficulties, and the things they can no longer do because of dementia. “Memory loss is often one of the early signs of dementia. “It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgment. Over 55 million people across the globe are living with dementia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). (Note: This report was first published by INQUIRER.net on March 20, 2022.

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

RELATED: "Love you so much my friend," wrote "Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul on Rumer Willis' Instagram. Your pops is such a damn legend." Related: "Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces," the family statement said. "While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.

Willis's family announced Thursday that his previous diagnosis of aphasia has progressed to frontotemporal dementia. The disease can cause issues with ...

About 30% of people with frontotemporal degeneration inherit the disease; there are no known risk factors. The results are analyzed in tandem with a patient's medical history and symptoms. "Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces," his family said.

Frontotemporal dementia is caused by a buildup of particular proteins that form clumps inside brain cells, causing damage to the frontal and temporal lobes.

If an individual has a close family member with familial FTD, it is possible for them to have a genetic test to determine if they also carry the gene. [Alzheimer’s Research UK](https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/types-of-dementia/frontotemporal-dementia/) suggests that it accounts for less than one in 20 of all dementia cases. As a result, people with frontotemporal dementia can experience personality and behaviour changes – such as developing repetitive behaviour or acting impulsively – as well as difficulties with speech, problems with organisation or planning and, later on, developing memory difficulties. [as the Alzheimer’s Society ](https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/treatment-support-frontotemporal-dementia#content-start)says, there are ways to help people with frontotemporal dementia maintain a good quality of life: for example, speech and language therapists can help those affected to find new ways to use language and communicate, while physiotherapy can be used to help with problems around movement. These areas of the brain are involved in language, behaviour, personality, emotions and a range of other functions. [According to the NHS:](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/frontotemporal-dementia/) “Around one in eight people who get frontotemporal dementia will have relatives who were also affected by the condition.”

Bruce Willis' family revealed that the actor has frontotemporal dementia (FTD), nearly a year after his aphasia diagnosis.

“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately,” Willis’ family said in their statement. “A lot of our understanding has come since the 1990s when we identified the clinical syndrome, and the gene for the most common inherited form wasn’t discovered until 2011. “In genetic cases through which we know the underlying cause from the gene mutation, we will learn about the disease more broadly so we can help more patients.” While there is considerable research to better understand FTD and its causes, there are no treatments yet for the neurodegenerative condition. “Our understanding of FTD really accelerated dramatically in the past two decades,” says Darby. Researchers are focusing on the genetic forms of the disease in order to learn more about how it works, and how best to intervene with possible treatments, says Dr. Darby says that while some forms of language-related FTD involve TDP43, patients with behavioral symptoms can harbor excess forms of either protein, making it difficult to know which protein to target in drug trials. have the behavior and language versions of the condition. In FTD, patients develop abnormal deposits of one of two proteins—a form of a protein called tau and TDP-43—but not both. While FTD involves the gradual loss of brain nerves, it differs from Alzheimer’s in important ways. The diagnosis comes nearly a year after his family revealed Willis has [aphasia](https://time.com/6163559/aphasia-symptoms-bruce-willis/), which is characterized by difficulty speaking. Estimates of how many people are affected by FTD aren’t conclusive, but the Alzheimer’s Association

Actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with a frontotemporal dementia. The dementia impacts executive functioning like language and motor skills.

Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a type of dementia that impacts executive functioning like language and motor skills. [medications](https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/frontotemporal-dementia) can help alleviate some of the side effects of FTD, like depression and irritability, to improve quality of life. FTD progresses gradually, and though there is no treatment for FTD, there are therapies and medications that can alleviate the symptoms. 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 family wrote. [Speech therapy](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4920050/) [Treatments](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4920050/) While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” Moore posted. [cases](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5795686/#:~:text=Frontotemporal%20dementia%20commonly%20presents%20as,a%20span%20of%202%20years.) [speed](https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/frontotemporal-dementia) of progression varies from person to person. [risk factors](https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/frontotemporal-dementia) for FTD. [statement](https://www.theaftd.org/mnlstatement23/?utm_source=Instagram&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MNL23) with The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration’s website on Thursday. [statement](https://www.theaftd.org/mnlstatement23/?utm_source=Instagram&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=MNL23)with The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration’s website on Thursday.

After an aphasia diagnosis last year, Bruce Willis has now been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which can lead to unusual or impulsive behavior.

[forms of dementia](/dementia/). “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and that can strike anyone,” wrote the family. [Sharon Sha, MD](https://profiles.stanford.edu/sharon-sha), the chief of the memory disorders division at Stanford Medicine in California. While she’s unaware of any studies looking at possible ways to decrease risk, Sha notes that common lifestyle factors to promote brain health such as exercise, healthy diet, good sleep, and cognitive and social stimulation may be helpful in reducing risk of neurodegenerative disease in general. They are called Pick bodies because FTD used to be called Pick's disease, after Arnold Pick, MD, a physician who in 1892 first described a patient with distinct symptoms of the illness affecting language. “Unfortunately, we need more research to understand the reason that this disease occurs,” says Dr. [the frontal lobe](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24501-frontal-lobe) of the brain, which manages thinking, emotions, personality, judgment, self-control, movements, memory, and more. Some of those afflicted have tiny structures called Pick bodies in their brain cells. As the disease worsens, people with FTD may engage in dangerous behaviors or be unable to care for themselves. They may need 24-hour nursing care or to stay in an assisted living facility or nursing home. People with this brain degeneration cannot control their behaviors and lack any awareness of their illness. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”

The neurological disease known as FTD is a common form of dementia in people under the age of 60.

The process for diagnosing FTD is similar to the process for people being evaluated for other more common causes of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. I often ask families to focus on what someone can do and engage them in that to the extent possible to help maintain their quality of life. But this all depends on the age when symptoms began, the general underlying health of the person with dementia, and the medical and emotional support to which they have access, especially in later stages. Other supportive activities can be a meaningful way to restart or retain a connection with someone affected by dementia, particularly through art, music, physical activity, and trying to find as much joy as possible in the day-to-day routines. But as with other forms of dementia, the earliest symptoms of FTD often determine how the doctor makes the clinical diagnosis. While we do not have any available treatments, yet, to impact the biology of disease, we can use medications to treat the symptoms of disease, ranging from memory to mood. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurological disorder in which nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain decrease, impacting a person’s behavior, language, and movement. Several genes have been implicated in FTD, and genetic testing is more often discussed and considered in FTD than in other dementias. The behavioral symptoms in FTD may be subtle at first but often come to define the illness. We are able to identify and understand some of the microscopic changes that cause dementia, but do not yet know what specifically causes FTD. There are two main forms of FTD: a behavioral form and a language form. Recently, the family of actor Bruce Willis announced that his previous [diagnosis of aphasia](https://healthmatters.nyp.org/what-to-know-about-aphasia/) had progressed into FTD, raising awareness of a devastating condition that affects an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 Americans.

In a wise and challenging book, Dasha Kiper focuses on the forgotten people caring for those living with dementia.

It is named for the parts of the brain it affects: the frontal and temporal lobes. It is sometimes called Pick's disease or frontal lobe dementia. There are ...

They may require full-time care. It is sometimes called Pick's disease or frontal lobe dementia. FTD is caused by damage to cells in areas of the brain called the frontal and temporal lobes. The later stages of all types of FTD bring a greater range of symptoms, which are similar to the later stages of other types of dementia. The first noticeable symptoms of FTD are different to other types of dementia. It is named for the parts of the brain it affects: the frontal and temporal lobes.

Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, whose symptoms include changes in behavior, language and communication.

"It's a disease not a lot of people have ever heard of, and maybe this can now help others get diagnosed sooner." "This disease is seen a little earlier in life, which can make it harder because it's an age where people have a lot of demands and responsibilities," Day said. The [Mayo Clinic](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frontotemporal-dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354737) estimates that FTD is the cause of "approximately 10% to 20% of dementia cases," making it rarer than Alzheimer's. “The reality is, we don’t have a full grasp of what causes FTD,” Day said. In that sense, he said, the Willis family's announcement is helpful. "But when the proteins build up in parts of the brain that govern social cognition, unusual behavior, such as acting out, disrespecting loved ones, losing empathy, motivation and understanding can all be symptoms as well." And when it affects language for someone who relies on it to make a living, it'll make an impact." Gregg Day, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida. "Another is primary progressive aphasia, where people have trouble finding words or expressing themselves." The diseases that fall under this umbrella are neurodegenerative, meaning they get worse over time. Overall, many symptoms of FTD can be hard to recognize in patients, and the behavioral ones in particular can be difficult to separate from psychiatric diseases, Day said. "While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis," the family wrote in its Instagram post, which was signed by the "Ladies of Willis/Moore" family.

“It's everything,” says cognitive neuroscientist Denise Park, who runs the Park Aging Brain Laboratory at the University of Texas at Dallas. “There are hundreds ...

The answer appears to be that the stress of caring for someone alters their brains in ways that make it more vulnerable to dementia. “There’s not good evidence that will generalize to other areas of cognition.” In one experiment, researchers would isolate a mouse all day to impose one sort of stress, and then expose it to an aggressive “bully” mouse to oppose another type of stress. He says numerous studies have found that exercise is one of the best things you can do to protect your brain. What their brain loses in processing power may be offset by increased experience in the world. (Although the 66-year-old reporter writing this article can attest he had trouble remembering where he put them even when young.) Older people have more trouble mastering large bodies of new facts, even as they may remember a familiar set of facts in sharp detail. A number of studies found that people who care for someone with dementia are more likely to get dementia themselves. “It’s everything,” says cognitive neuroscientist Denise Park, who runs the Park Aging Brain Laboratory at the University of Texas at Dallas. People with untreated hearing loss have a 90% higher rate of dementia than others in their age group, according to the “If you have cognitive reserve, you are more likely to survive without developing dementia,” Livingston explains. The 63-year-old also had her hearing tested, found hearing loss that she wasn’t aware of, and now uses hearing aids. Put down that brain teaser you torture yourself with and get your hearing tested.