Bruce Willis’ family wants the world to know more about the disease the “Sixth Sense” star was diagnosed with. In a statement released on their behalf, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) called FTD (frontotemporal dementia) “the most common dementia for people under 60.” Willis was 67 years old at the time of his diagnosis. According to their facts, the disease, which is difficult to diagnose, affects a low estimate of 50- to 60-thousand people in the United States alone, and probably more.
FTD refers to a group of different but related disorders that affect the brain’s frontal lobe. Though Alzheimer’s is also a type of dementia, it affects a different part of the brain than FTD, and memory loss is not necessarily a symptom of FTD, at least at first. FTD can affect a person’s behavior, movement, or personality, as well as language (or all four). It is also frequently misdiagnosed because doctors are either unaware of FTD or don’t expect younger people — even as young as 20 — to have dementia.
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Sadly, there is no cure for FTD, and it is fatal. The average life expectancy for patients with FTD is seven to 13 years. But with the Willis family’s transparency and straightforwardness in discussing Bruce’s health issues, they’re hoping to help AFTD raise awareness, provide assistance, and continue their research to find a cure for the affliction. And it starts by having FTD patients like Willis share their stories.
Please visit the AFTD website to learn more about how you can help support Bruce Willis and others with FTD.
