Emma Heming Willis Opens Up About Bruce Willis' Dementia Battle
In a poignant new interview, Emma Heming Willis has provided a heartfelt update on her husband Bruce Willis' ongoing struggle with frontotemporal dementia. The 47-year-old model and author revealed a surprising aspect of his condition: the legendary actor remains unaware of his diagnosis due to a neurological phenomenon known as anosognosia.
Understanding Anosognosia: The Brain's Self-Image Disruption
Speaking on the Conversations with Cam podcast, Heming Willis explained that anosognosia is a common feature of frontotemporal dementia and other neurological conditions. "There is this term, this neurological condition, that comes with FTD and other types of dementia that's called anosognosia, where your brain can't identify what is happening to it," she shared.
According to medical authorities like the Alzheimer's Association and Cleveland Clinic, anosognosia occurs when damage to specific brain regions prevents individuals from recognizing their own health conditions. The brain's ability to maintain an accurate "self-image" of the body becomes impaired, meaning patients cannot process information about their cognitive decline.
"Bruce never tapped in. He never connected the dots that he had this disease," Heming Willis revealed. "I'm really happy about that. I'm really happy he doesn't know about it."
Family Connections Amidst Cognitive Changes
Despite the challenges, Heming Willis emphasized that Willis maintains meaningful connections with his family. The Die Hard star recognizes his three children from his previous marriage to Demi Moore, as well as his two daughters with Heming Willis: Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.
"He is still very much present in his body... when someone says to me, 'Does Bruce still know who you are?' Yes he does, because he doesn't have Alzheimer's, he has FTD," she explained. "He has a way with connecting with me, our children, that might not be the same as you would connect with your loved one but it's still very beautiful and meaningful."
The Journey to Diagnosis and Advocacy
Willis' family first announced his retirement from acting in March 2022 following an aphasia diagnosis. The following year, they revealed he was suffering from frontotemporal dementia, which his family described as "a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone."
Heming Willis has since become a prominent advocate for caregivers and families affected by dementia. She recently published a book titled Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, detailing her family's experience. During a December 2025 appearance at the Women's Brain Health Summit in Toronto, she described advocacy as "a lifeline for me" during this challenging chapter.
"It's been a hard journey, and we're in the midst of it, but we're pulling through as a family," she shared. "We've all been able to come together to love and support Bruce and we feel blessed to be on this journey and navigate this with him."
Early Signs and Current Care Arrangements
Heming Willis recalled noticing subtle changes in her husband's behavior before doctors identified his condition. "Bruce had a severe stutter when he was a child and he had always managed his stutter. What I started to hear was his stutter starting to resurface again," she remembered. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that was a symptom of early-onset dementia."
The family's initial diagnosis experience was particularly difficult. "When we received the FTD diagnosis... we walked out of that appointment with no support, no resources and no hope," Heming Willis recalled. "It was just, 'Check back in a couple of months.' I was shocked and realized very quickly how unsupported and unseen caregivers are."
Currently, the 70-year-old actor resides in a separate home where he receives around-the-clock professional care. "He's doing really well with a very unkind disease," Heming Willis reported, emphasizing that their family continues to adapt to their new reality while maintaining their bond with the beloved actor.
