Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis.Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Emma Heming Willisis learning all that she can aboutfrontotemporal dementiaafter her husband Bruce Willis wasdiagnosedwith the disease.
On Monday, the 44-year-old shared a photo onInstagramwith dementia care and education specialist Teepa Snow. While tagging the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Emma praised the help she’s received while learning how to navigate Bruce’s condition.
“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to work with@teepasnows_pacwho has helped me add to my dementia care toolbox,” she wrote. “She’s a loving, compassionate and skilled leader in this space who navigates herself with pure empathy. She’s a gift. Head to the link in my bio as her website has a wealth of caregiving information you might find useful too 💌#dementiaawareness#ftdawarness#EndFTD#EveryFTDStoryCounts.”
Earlier this month, Emma revealed that Bruce, 67, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, sharing that his condition has worsened since his family first shared news of hisaphasia diagnosislast year.
“Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is arelief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” she said.
Frontotemporal dementia is an all-encompassing term for a group of brain disorders that threatens thefrontal and temporal lobes of the brain. This means that parts of these lobes atrophy, and the shrinking of these areas can cause speech issues, emotional problems and changes in personality.
Bruce Willis and family.Demi Moore/instagram
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Other symptoms can include loss of motor skills — problems walking, swallowing or muscle spasms. Symptoms tend to get worse over time. Patients typically begin to notice symptoms between 40 - 65 years of age, but it can affect people who are younger. It is the most common form of dementiafor people under 60.
Since theDie Hardactor’s diagnosis, his family — Emma, their children,Mabel, 10, andEvelyn, 8, ex-wifeDemi Mooreand their childrenRumer Willis, 34,Scout Willis, 31, andTallulah Willis, 29 — have been focused on helping him “live as full a life as possible,” according to a statement from the family.
“The focus for Bruce is to keep him active. He has a busy schedule with activities every day. They make sure both his body and brain is exercised,” a family source recently told PEOPLE.
“The family is all closer than ever,” the source said, adding that Emma is trying to make as many positive memories for Mabel and Evelyn as she can. “She wants them to remember Bruce as an amazing, fun dad. She wants them to have the best memories of him.”
source: people.com
