LOS ANGELES, Aug 31: Bruce Willis, the legendary Die Hard actor, has been living with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) since his diagnosis in February 2023. Sadly, his condition has advanced, leading his family to make a deeply emotional decision regarding his care.

Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, has been open about the journey in her upcoming book Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey, which will be released next month. While promoting the book, she sat down with Diane Sawyer of ABC News to share an update on her husband’s health and the challenges of caring for him.

FTD is often difficult to diagnose. Susan Dickson, CEO of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, explained that its symptoms can resemble depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, or ALS. Those affected may lose language abilities, executive function, and experience difficulty moving or speaking.

“One of the things that the frontal lobe controls is self-insight,” Dickson said. “So we really don’t know. Some people, the first thing they lose is any understanding that they have changed. And other people retain that for a long time.”

Speaking with Sawyer, Heming Willis shared that while her husband remains physically strong, his cognitive health is in decline.

“Bruce is still very mobile,” she said. “Bruce is in really great health overall, you know. It’s just his brain that is failing him.”

She revealed that his language skills are deteriorating but that the family has learned new ways to communicate with him.

“The language is going, and, you know, we’ve learned to adapt,” she said. “And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a… different way.”

Even in the midst of challenges, Heming Willis treasures moments when his personality shines through.

“Not days, but we get moments. It’s his laugh, right? He has such a hearty laugh. And sometimes you’ll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk. I just get transported,” she said emotionally. “And it’s just hard to see, because as quickly as those moments appear, then they go.”

With Willis’ condition progressing, Heming Willis explained that she made the difficult choice to move him out of the family home, where she lives with their two daughters, 13-year-old Mabel and 11-year-old Evelyn.

“Bruce would want that for our daughters,” she said. “He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs.”

Though painful, she believes it is the best decision. Willis now lives with a full-time care team, and his family makes frequent visits.

“When we go over, either we’re outside, or we’re watching a movie,” Heming Willis explained. “It’s just really about being able to be there, and connect with Bruce.”

She added that his home remains full of warmth and support.

“It is a house that is filled with love, warmth, care, and laughter. And it’s been beautiful to see that, to see how many of Bruce’s friends continue to show up for him, and they bring in life, and fun.”