Actor Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia. What is it? : NPR
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Bruce Willis attends a film premiere in New York on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Almost a 12 months after Bruce Willis’ household introduced that he would action absent from acting right after staying diagnosed with aphasia, his relatives claims his “affliction has progressed.” In a assertion posted Thursday, his relatives claimed Willis has a additional distinct diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.
Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
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Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Bruce Willis attends a motion picture premiere in New York on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Approximately a 12 months right after Bruce Willis’ loved ones announced that he would stage away from acting following staying identified with aphasia, his spouse and children says his “situation has progressed.” In a assertion posted Thursday, his loved ones claimed Willis has a far more distinct diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.
Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Actor Bruce Willis has been identified with dementia, evolving from a prior diagnosis of aphasia past spring, his spouse and children introduced Thursday.
Additional exclusively, Willis has frontotemporal dementia, which can consist of aphasia, which brings issues with speaking and writing.
“Sadly, troubles with communication are just just one symptom of the disorder Bruce faces,” his family reported. “When this is unpleasant, it is a reduction to lastly have a obvious prognosis.”
Willis’s family explained previous calendar year the actor would be stepping away from his a long time-extended profession thanks to his impaired cognition.
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia, also recognized as FTD, is one particular of quite a few varieties of dementia and brings about nerve destruction in the frontal and temporal lobes, which leads to a reduction of operate in individuals parts, in accordance to the Alzheimer’s Association.
There are unique styles of frontotemporal dementia. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia will cause nerve decline in the spots of the brain that regulate empathy, judgment and perform.
Major progressive aphasia deteriorates elements of the mind that management talking, writing and comprehension. The onset of signs and symptoms ordinarily starts in advance of age 65, but can happen afterwards.
FTD can also disrupt motor perform and movement, which could be categorized as Lou Gehrig’s ailment, also recognized as ALS.
How is FTD distinctive from Alzheimer’s?
Diagnosis of FTD tends to come about between a human being in their 40s and 60s, although Alzheimer’s comes about at a later age. Alzheimer’s is also far more closely tied to hallucinations, memory reduction and issues with spatial orientation, this kind of as acquiring dropped.
Remedy and diagnosis
Medical doctors use brain imaging technology, these as MRIs, to diagnose FTD. The effects are analyzed in tandem with a patient’s health care heritage and symptoms. About 30% of people with frontotemporal degeneration inherit the illness there are no recognized risk things.
There are prescription drugs that can assistance alleviate indications, but the ailment ultimately will get worse with time.
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