On Thursday, Bruce Willis and his family revealed the actor has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Support and love came pouring in from many celebrities, including Sophia Bush, Selma Blair, Alyssa Milano, and Bonnie Hunt, the latter writing on Demi Moore’s Instagram, “An abundance of love for you dear Demi, for Bruce, for all of you, family♥ so much love”.
Demi Moore is Willis’ ex-wife and the mother to three of his five children. The family said it is both painful and relieving to have a clear diagnosis of the challenges with communication they face.
The Willis family wants to shed light on FTD by coming forward with the news.
“FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know.
Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research,” the family added.