Bruce Willis’ wife Emma says actor ‘doesn’t know’ he has dementia

Bruce Willis' wife Emma has suggested that the legendary actor 'doesn't know' he has dementia.

The 70-year-old was forced to retire from acting after being initially diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, before his family revealed his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in early 2023.

Willis, whose film career includes illustrious titles such as Die Hard and Pulp Fiction, has moved away from the public eye since his health struggles were first reported. His wife Emma Hemming confirmed late last year that she'd taken the tough decision to move him into a home with full-time carers.

Updates on his health have been few and far between, with the family no doubt focused on creating more memories with the beloved Hollywood star, although his ex-wife Demi Moore has opened up about one of the most 'difficult' things about the debilitating disease.

But now, Emma has provided an update on Bruce's wellbeing, suggesting that the nature of his illness means that he isn't truly aware of his own health problems.

Bruce and Emma together in 2019 (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Speaking on the Conversations With Cam Podcast, she said: "I think they think this is their normal. That's not for everybody, there's this term, this neurological condition, that comes with FTD and other types of dementia as well, called anosognosia, where your brain can't identify what is happening to it.

"Where people think this might be denial, actually this is the anosognosia that comes into play. It's not denial, it's just that their brain is changing. This is a part of the disease.

"That is the blessing and the curse of this is that Bruce never tapped in, he never connected the dots that he has this disease and I'm really happy that he doesn't know about it."

Someone with Alzheimer's can often forget their loved ones or memories, but this usually only occurs later in FTD cases.

Symptoms instead include personality and behaviour changes, language problems, and issues with distraction, planning, and organisation.

Emma suggested she was happy that Bruce isn't aware of his dementia problems (Conversations with Cam podcast)

Emma added: "He's still very much present in his body. These diseases, for the most part, are usually a slow progression so we have adapted and progressed along with him. So when someone says to me, 'does Bruce still know who you are?', well yes he does because he doesn't have Alzheimer's, he has FTD.

"He has a way of connecting with me or children which might not be the same way as you would connect with your loved one. It's still very beautiful, it's still very meaningful, you just learn to adapt to it, and meet them where they are at."

Bruce has five daughters from his two marriages, with his eldest child Rumer giving a heartbreaking update on his health late last year.

But from Emma's latest quotes, it seems as if the action star is still going strong and enjoying as much time as possible with his family.