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BRUCE WILLIS HAS been diagnosed with dementia, his family has announced.
Relatives of the 67-year-old Hollywood actor previously said that he would be “stepping away” from his successful career after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition affecting his cognitive abilities.
In a post shared on Instagram today, Willis’s daughter Rumer offered an update on her father’s health, confirming his condition has “progressed” and he had been given the “more specific” diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.
Rumer, who Willis shares with his former partner, actress Demi Moore, wrote: “Our family wanted to start by expressing our 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.
“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 NHS, frontotemporal dementia is an “uncommon” form of the disease that causes the sufferer problems with behaviour and language, and mostly affects those between the ages of 45 and 65.
Willis’ family further explained the condition in an extended statement on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website in which they acknowledged frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a “cruel disease” and “can strike anyone”.
The family added that they hoped media attention on the actor’s condition would raise awareness.
“FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone,” their statement read.
“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.”
They added: “Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately.
“We know in our hearts that – if he could today – he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.”
The statement was signed from members of Willis’ family including his wife Emma Heming, former wife Moore and his daughters.
Willis has starred in hit films including the Die Hard series, Pulp Fiction, Armageddon, Moonrise Kingdom, 12 Monkeys and Looper.
He has five daughters, sharing his three eldest – Rumer, Scout and Tallulah – with Moore whom he married in 1987.
Despite separating in 2000, the pair remain on amicable terms. Willis went on to marry actress Heming in 2009.
The pair share two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.
Following the news of Willis’s diagnosis, charity Dementia UK said: “We’re sorry to hear that Bruce has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
“By choosing to speak publicly about his diagnosis, more awareness can be raised about FTD and hopefully it will encourage others to seek advice if they are experiencing concerns about their brain health.
“FTD is the third most common form of dementia in people under the age of 65 but there is still limited awareness of it among the public and health and social care professionals. This can impact negatively on the care that people living with the condition receive.”
Over the course of his career, Willis has been highly commended for many performances, receiving multiple award nominations including five Golden Globes, of which he won one, and three Primetime Emmys, of which he won two.
In 2006, he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles.
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Is it going to take the death of a prison officer before we change how things are done regarding prisoners?
We are talking about Irish prisons, so it feels inevitable
@Sean. True, he will walk with a sad story but he will get his citizenship and all will be grand. Great little country we are
Hands shackled, feet shackled and tied into a chair , this country and the judiciary put the bad guys first. It’s time for CHANGE!!
Prison Service Disciplinary System?? that’s a joke for a start. Cake and fizzy drink for a start. Ah sure you’re not really a bad lad, just misunderstood. And here’s a phone call to your solicitor to lodge a claim against the Officers you injured
Add ten years to the pr1€ks sentence that will teach him
Yet again another attack on prison staff. It is about time that prison management and Irish prison service management are brought in front of a committee in Leinster house to answer questions as to why they are failing to protect their employees
Hog tie them and drag them along the floor
this is getting ridicolous we need to protect them better this needs to stop
An English Prison officer has died of her injuries sustained by an inmate during a transfer from a British cou rt to the cellular van…he stomped on her head..is this the future for the Irish Prison Officer…Open Season on the “Screws”….
And I am sure the English Officers had the same talk as we are having now. “When will it be one of ours?”
They should be transported on pallets and moved by forklift in their own self contained bubble that will contain all their bodily fluids if released. Maybe thats the future, wishful thinking !
They certainly did Mick, the have a Facebook page “Know the danger” and it is truly appalling to see how privatisation has utterly destroyed the service.
The death of the female officer is truly awful, sadly that is what it may take here to finally wake the DG from his deep, deep sleep.
Prisoner will be dealt with by Prison authorities. Wonder how. Mmmmm. maybe would u like a single or double cell. and what about breakfast sir. any recomendations. etc. Hopefully tho we get a bit of housed down with cold water. battered with rubber tubing and made to eat scotch bonnet peppers the toe rag..
The black dolphin prison in Russia.
http://www.imgism.com/5-of-the-most-brutal-prisons/
The second picture down is the way dangerous prisoners should be moved about in a prison.
Surely 3 of the guards were hospitalised as it only mentions one prisoner?
Demise. If Officers were allowed to behave as violently and indiscriminately as the prisoners it would have only take one Officer to put the Prisoner in intensive care in hospital. But Officers can’t. There is a set procedure for dealing with a violent prisoner which requires Officers to avoid injuring the prisoner and if Officers stray from that procedure they can find themselves being investigated and possibly charged with assaulting the prisoner. This is why it can take up to 4 Officers to subdue a violent Prisoner.
I was commenting on a typo Mick it’s since been amended. it said 3 prisoners were hospitalised
Ahh ok. I thought you were asking why so many officers were required.
Mick you are referring to the category A complaints , surely this was agreed with your union ? I can’t understand why your union would agree on this when it failed in the UK
keeping their powder dry.
Captain. The Union leadership never consulted with the members on it. We the membership had no say in the matter.
Mick , what will happen to him now ?
He will most likely get 40 days close confinement, have his phonecalls and visits reduced to 1 per week and get limited tuck shop orders. If he is on remand he cannot have remission taken and even if he could he could appeal and get it back. He will also get charged by the Gardai for the assault. But that could take up to a year before it goes for hearing. And thats only if he hasn’t skipped bail and left the country as he is a foreign national.
Bail? That’s crazy.
I know a lot of officers , this is what baffles me , you might help me , IPS introduce a fairly extreme measure where a prisoner can make a complaint about the officer , the officer could be suspended , he’s investigated , undue stress put on the officer and if the complaint turns out to be false , the prisoner has immunity from punishment,so the union had no say in this you say ?? well why are ye not on strike ?
tell ya what Mick , if I was an officer I would just clock in , switch off , clock out and switch back on cos it seems if you do your job right , u could be sacked for it . I can’t understand why your union has not called a no confidence in donnellan , the union need a kick up the hole from the members on the floor
Captain. I said the union membership had no say, the Union leadership were involved in the discussions.
When the law was brought in to permit the Garda Ombudsman investigate the Gardai that same law opened the way for IPS to introduce the Prisoner Complaints System as it made it legal for an outside agency to investigate complaints.
That they brought in the original system that had been tried in the Scottish Prison System (that had been found to be a disaster until the Scottish made major changes to it including increasing the sentence of anyone found making a false and or malicious complaint) is a question you will have to ask of IPS.
Captain. I as a serving member am not permitted to express my views publicly on IPS Management or on the Minister. As they could lead to being charged under the code of discipline for me or any of my colleagues that were to openly express what we think. So I cannot fully reply to your last comment.
I’m not an officer, I can tell u now the officers on the floor have no confidence in donnellan , since the man took over , assaults have risen , morale is at an all time low , as I said before Mick , your union in merrion square need a kick up the hole and put in a no confidence against donnellan , the man is not fit to run the country’s prisons
The Union in Merrion Square need a lot of things doing. But as I said we as Officers are not permitted to express our views about IPS management on Social Media. But there is a sharp rise in assaults on staff. That is public knowledge.
Mick , thanks for answering my question , there’s not enough being done to actually protect you in your your workplace .its shocking !
fair enough Mick but my point is ye are bringing this on yourselves , I do not mean to be disrespectful to you or any other prison officer but IPS are saying to the public that everything is fine , the union are keeping quiet which tells me everything in Irish jails is running smoothly . in my job , I negotiate with unions , trust me Mick they are not the friends ye think they are
I think that question needs to be asked to the POA, seeing as they are the body who agreed to it on your behalf.
Deputy. Trying to get a straight answer from Merrion Square is like trying to get a straight answer out of Leinster House.
I work close with the arbitration board , just to give u an example, officers in portlaoise won a case that they all be paid an environmental allowance due to high security they work in , IPS have purposely still withheld this payment on orders from howlin, your union have verbally agreed to it even tho the board ruled in favour of the officers , your union is in bed with IPS , time to remove them
He will be out on bail now tomorrow more than likely!!
if he was a foreign national he should be moved to either Mountjoy or Arbour Hill, made serve his sentence in gen pop, and if he survives that, deported. simples
Cuffed and shacked no? Also arm prison officers
Why they don´t kill them? things are getting out of control, looks like the sc&mbags have more rights AND rule the country, they do whatever they want… sickened!!!
Sounds like yer man was good with the head.
sounds like you need your bell rung..Muppet.
As a former prison officers i fear for former colleagues but there are officers on here bashing there union over keeping there “powder dry” which is horse shit the prison officers union is by far the strongest union and fellas would be better off getting behind them.at the end of the day if the minister wants to implement a procedure she doesnt have to consult the union but it is wise to. Ireland in many ways have followed in the footsteps of our dispised alledged neighbours on all fronts and make the same mistakes too.it will take a death to an officer to change the ministers policy but the union can only fight to show her the mistakes but they cant enforce there own rules.
have your say