The family of Bruce Willis said he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
It comes after relatives of the Hollywood actor, 67, previously said that he would be "stepping away" from his successful career after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition affecting his cognitive abilities. On Thursday, Willis' daughter Rumer said her father's condition has "progressed" and he had been given the "more specific" diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
According to the NHS, frontotemporal dementia is an "uncommon" form of the disease that causes the sufferer problems with behaviour and language, and mostly affects those between the ages of 45 and 65.
READ MORE: Bruce Willis diagnosed with dementia as family release statement
Willis' family further explained the condition in an extended statement on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website in which they acknowledged FTD is a "cruel disease" and "can strike anyone".
The NHS defines dementia as "problems with mental abilities caused by gradual changes and damage in the brain". FTD, it said, "affects the front and sides of the brain", and is an uncommon type of dementia, "that causes problems with behaviour and language".
Symptoms can include:
- Personality and behaviour changes, such as acting inappropriately or impulsively, appearing selfish or unsympathetic, neglecting personal hygiene, overeating, or loss of motivation
- Language and speech problems, including getting words in the wrong order, or struggling to make the right sounds when saying a word
- Problems with mental abilities, including getting distracted easily, struggling with planning and organisation
- Memory problems, which only tend to occur later on, unlike more common forms of dementia.
- Physical problems such as slow or stiff movements and difficulty swallowing.
If you think you or a loved one has early signs of dementia, you should contact a GP. To visit the NHS page about FTD, click here
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