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- Emma Heming Willis says she mistook Bruce Willis’ early symptoms for marriage troubles (businessinsider.com)
Emma Heming Willis Opens Up About Bruce Willis’s Early Dementia Symptoms
Before Bruce Willis’s frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, initially mistook his symptoms for marital problems. In a recent interview, she revealed that she noticed changes in his speech and communication, particularly a returning stutter. These changes led to difficulties in their relationship, leaving her feeling frustrated and questioning her role in the perceived issues.
Heming Willis shared that conversations were no longer aligning, and she couldn’t pinpoint the cause of the shift in their relationship. She questioned her own actions, wondering if she was somehow contributing to the communication breakdown. The experience left her feeling as if she were “banging [her] head against a brick wall.”
Receiving the FTD diagnosis brought a sense of relief and clarity for Heming Willis. She realized that the changes she observed weren’t due to marital issues, but rather the disease affecting her husband’s brain. This understanding allowed her to approach the situation with more compassion and acceptance.
The “Die Hard” star stepped away from acting in 2022 following an aphasia diagnosis. The subsequent FTD diagnosis came a year later.
FTD primarily impacts personality, behavior, language, and speech due to damage in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Symptoms can manifest as insensitivity, rudeness, and diminished interest in people and activities.
Heming Willis recently made the difficult decision to move her husband to a nearby one-story home equipped for round-the-clock care. While challenging, she believes it’s the best choice for their daughters, ensuring their needs are met in a suitable environment. She and her children continue to spend considerable time with Willis in his new home.
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- Emma Heming Willis says she mistook Bruce Willis’ early symptoms for marriage troubles (businessinsider.com)