Bruce Willis’ earliest dementia signs mistaken for stuttering, wife reveals

Hollywood icon Bruce Willis’ earliest symptom of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) was initially dismissed by doctors as a resurgence of his childhood stutter, his wife Emma Heming Willis has revealed.

The Die Hard actor, 69, retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia, which affects language abilities. A year later, he was diagnosed with FTD, a rare form of dementia that impacts personality, behavior, and communication.

In an interview with Town & Country, Emma shared how Bruce's struggles with language were misunderstood in the beginning. “He had a severe stutter as a child... When he began to experience difficulties with language, it seemed like it was just a part of his stutter," she explained. "Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young.”

Experts like Dr. Jason Krellman, a neuropsychologist at Columbia University, have highlighted how early symptoms of FTD can include language difficulties, changes in behavior, and motor impairments.

Family United in Care
Bruce, who is now reportedly non-verbal, is being cared for by his wife, Emma, along with his ex-wife Demi Moore and their children—Rumer, 35, Scout, 32, and Tallulah, 29. He also shares two younger daughters, Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9, with Emma.

A source close to the family told US Weekly that the actor has "good days and bad days," but the past months have brought more challenges. “This experience has brought the whole family even closer together. No one knows how much time Bruce has left, so they’re soaking up every moment.”

In October 2023, filmmaker Glenn Gordon Caron, who worked with Willis in the 1980s, shared with Page Six that Bruce is no longer the voracious reader he once was and now interacts with life “through a screen door.” Despite his condition, Caron noted that Bruce’s essence remains: “He’s still Bruce... you’re grateful that he’s there.”

A New Chapter of Love and Connection
Emma Heming Willis has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of her husband’s illness. "There is grief and sadness, but you start a new chapter filled with love, connection, joy, and happiness," she said.

The actor was last seen in public in November, smiling as he took a drive through Los Angeles. With round-the-clock care and constant family support, Bruce continues to face his health challenges surrounded by love.

For support and advice on dementia, resources are available at Dementia UK.