Frontotemporal dementia: What we know about Bruce Willis’ ‘rare’ condition

Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which is one of the rare forms of dementia, according to experts.

Nearly a year after announcing his battle with aphasia, Bruce Willis’ family disclosed last week that the 67-year-old actor has been diagnosed with one of the rare forms of dementia, known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Approximately five to 10 per cent of all dementia cases are FTD, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, but it makes up about 20 per cent of all young onset dementia diagnosed in those under 65.

“It’s not an uncommon diagnosis, but it is one of the rare forms of dementia,” said Cathy Barrick, chief executive officer at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.

“Bruce Willis is in his prime… And we do see this kind of diagnosis in the earlier years as opposed to other types of dementia which tend to happen. Age is the biggest risk factor, but not for this particular type,” Barrick told Global News.

FTD is an umbrella term for a group of rare disorders that most often affect the parts of the brain associated with personality and behaviour, the Alzheimer Society of Canada explains on its website. It can cause changes in behaviour, difficulty with speech and movement, as well as memory loss.

“This particular form of dementia primarily attacks the frontal temporal lobe… that governs your behavior and judgment,” said Barrick.

“So sometimes the symptoms associated with it can be quite disturbing both to the person who is living with it and the people around them.”

Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, however, people with frontotemporal dementia often remain conscious of time (for example, what year it is) and memory is not of concern in the early stages, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.