As life moves on, Bruce Willis’s daughter Tallulah Willis is sharing an update on the legendary actor’s health.
In 2023, Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD. As a result, the actor was forced into retirement.
While talking with People about an upcoming business venture, Tallulah revealed that she sees her dad as often as she can. But admits she often has “to go into it open to what the visit is, and knowing that before I go in, I’m solid. I’m okay. I’ve done what I need to do to make sure that I can just be present.”
Ultimately, Tallulah tells People that Willis is “doing the same in terms of the last we kind of updated, which I’m told is good. But whatever kind of day it is, my family and I meet him where he’s at.”
Willis also gave an update on life after she was diagnosed with autism as an adult. Her latest collaboration with the luxury silk brand Kumi Kookoon, Kumi KøøBuu, is a by product of that.
“I pitched them a lot of different ideas coming in and then what kind of came to be was this idea of focusing on the blankets, because I really found myself drawn to them, especially because they have a weighted nature to them,” Tallulah told People.
“And as I’m learning more about my autism and my sensory stuff, there is something very safe and special about that weighted feeling.”
Back in February 2023, the Willis family expressed their “deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support, and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis.”
“In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father, and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing,” the statement continued.
“Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
According to the National Institute on Aging, other ”possible symptoms can result, including unusual behaviors, emotional problems, difficulty with work, or difficulty with walking.”
FTD is “the result of damage to neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.”
In their statement, the family described FTD as “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.”
