In March 2022, the 67-year-old actor was diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects the brain and causes difficulty with language and speech, prompting him to retire from acting. Now the disease has worsened, reports SkyNews.

The statement on the development of his condition was signed by his current wife Emma Heming Willis and his ex-wife Demi Moore, as well as his children Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.

“Since Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis was announced in the spring of 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD),” the family announced.

“Unfortunately, communication problems are just one symptom of the illness that Bruce is dealing with. Although it hurts, finally getting a clear diagnosis is a relief,” say the actor’s relatives.

The NHS said FTD causes behavioral and language problems and affects the front and sides of the brain.

The family said Willis had received “an outpouring of love and sympathy” over the past ten months.

“Your generosity has been extraordinary and we are extremely grateful,” they said.

What is frontotemporal dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia (FSD) is a group of disorders that result in damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Depending on the areas of the brain affected, the disease causes changes in social behavior, personality, and/or loss of language skills.

Some people (10% to 20%) with FTD also develop neuromuscular and movement disorders such as parkinsonism or motor neuron disease (also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease).

The onset of frontotemporal dementia is one of the reasons that leads to the appearance of early dementia. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, memory is not affected in the early stages of FTD.