Bruce Willis suffers from frontotemporal dementia

Bruce Willis, 67, has frontotemporal dementia, according to his ex-wife Demi Moore.

Recall, Bruce Willis retired from acting last March after being diagnosed with a brain disorder.

The “Die Hard” actor “suffers from aphasia, which is affecting his cognitive abilities,” his daughter Rumer Willis said last March.

“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is affecting his cognitive abilities. As a result and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has been his Means a lot to me.” Read the statement.

“This is a truly challenging time for our family and we are grateful for your continued love, compassion and support. We’re going through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, “Live it up” and together we plan to do it

A diagnosis of aphasia progresses to frontotemporal dementia, says Demi Moore.

NBC News reported:

Actor Bruce Willis’ diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia has brought renewed attention to the disease, whose symptoms include changes in behavior, language and communication.

Willis’ family, including ex-wife Demi Moore, said in a statement Thursday that his aphasia diagnosis, which the family announced in March, had progressed to frontotemporal dementia. Willis is 67.

Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, refers to a collection of disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Diseases that fall under this umbrella are neurodegenerative, meaning they get worse over time.

Generally, there are two sub-diagnoses, according to Dr. Paul Barton Rosenberg, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

“A behavioral variant, where people can change their personality and lose their inhibitions and social graces,” Rosenberg said. “Another primary is progressive aphasia, where people have trouble finding words or expressing themselves.”

In their statement Thursday, the Willis family said that “unfortunately, challenges with communication are a symptom of the disease Bruce is facing.”