Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in February 2023. Since then, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, has been his main caretaker and advocate.
Emma has spoken openly about the challenges her family faces, recalling advice from Bruce’s neurologist to care for her own health as well. “Caregiving can be harmful to your health,” she was told. “That was my wake-up call to look after myself—not just for Bruce, but for our daughters.”
One of Bruce’s first symptoms was the return of a childhood stutter, initially mistaken for aphasia, a language disorder often caused by a stroke. Emma said she never imagined it was an early sign of FTD.
The diagnosis has been hardest on their daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, who have watched their father’s health decline. “They miss their dad so much,” Emma shared. “He’s missing milestones, and that’s tough. But kids are resilient—and we’re all learning as we go.”