Bruce Willis‘ wife, Emma Heming Willis, has revealed that the famous actor does not know he has frontotemporal dementia, the condition that forced him to retire from acting four years ago.
“He never made the connection [entre ses symptômes et son diagnostic de démence]», she confided, in an interview granted to the podcast Conversations with Cam.
“He never realized he had this disease, and I’m really happy about that. I’m glad he doesn’t know.”
Emma Heming Willis explains that this situation, both “a blessing and a curse”, is explained by a neurological disorder called “anosognosia”, which prevents the brain from recognizing the disease it suffers from.
“People sometimes think it’s denial, that people refuse to see a doctor because they think they’re fine. This is where anosognosia comes in. It is not denial. It’s just that their brain is changing. It’s part of the disease.”
He still recognizes his wife
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Emma Heming Willis also clarified that her husband is “still feeling good in his body” despite his frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
“These diseases generally progress slowly. So we evolved with it, and we adapted to it,” she said.
“When people ask me if Bruce still knows who I am, the answer is yes. He does not have Alzheimer’s disease, but FTD. He has his own way of connecting with me and our children. It may not be the same [connexion] than the one you would have with a loved one, but it is still very beautiful and very meaningful. We learn to adapt and join others where they are.”
