Bruce Willis ‘does not know’ he has dementia – expert

Bruce Willis’s spouse Emma Heming Willis detailed her husband’s frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis in a candid interview earlier this 12 months, claiming that he “doesn’t know” he has the disease.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the 70-12 months-previous actor’s spouse expressed aid that Bruce was not conscious of his condition. “I think that’s like the blessing and the curse of this, is that he never connected the dots that he had this disease, and I’m really happy about that. I’m really happy that he doesn’t know about it,” she said.

Bruce has anosognosia, she explained. Cleveland Clinic states that anosognosia is outlined as a condition wherein “your brain can’t recognize one or more other health conditions you have,” and is most often seen in people with psychological health problems.

“People think this might be denial, like they don’t want to go to the doctor because they’re like, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ actually, this is the anosognosia that comes into play. It’s not denial. It’s just that their brains are changing. This is a part of the disease,” Emma told PEOPLE.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an umbrella term for a group of brain diseases that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes, Mayo Clinic noted.

J. Audie Black, Ph.D., Founder & Chief Neuropsychologist, Idaho Neuropsychology, confirmed to The Express US that generally, anosognosia is much more predominant in behavioral variant FTD.

And Dr. Christopher U. Missling, President & CEO of Anavex Life Sciences, echoed a similar insight, adding that in Frontotemporal dementia, reduced awareness of symptoms can sometimes “lessen distress or anxiety because the person isn’t fully registering the changes they’re experiencing.”

However, Missling added that “it doesn’t necessarily prevent behavioral symptoms, which often arise from the disease’s impact on judgment, impulse control, and social behavior rather than emotional distress.”

Should an individual with frontotemporal dementia be made aware of their condition?

“I am a big believer that people have a right to know and understand what’s occurring to them, as long as that disclosure is handled in a very compassionate, sensitive way,” Black said.

“It is cruel to withhold a diagnosis from someone, especially if a medical professional is withholding that diagnosis simply because they’re concerned about how the person will react.”

Missling told The Express US that insight into a frontotemporal dementia diagnosis can “heighten awareness of cognitive changes, which may increase frustration or low mood.”

However, it can also help someone plan and adapt daily routines more effectively, the expert explained.

He said that disclosing a frontotemporal dementia diagnosis is a delicate act of balancing honesty with the person’s ability to process the information.

“Caregivers must consider emotional impact, respect autonomy, and communicate in ways that support dignity, safety, and collaborative decision‑making,” he said.

The difference in awareness between Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia patients

Black noted that individuals with FTD have lower levels of insight into the full extent and breadth of the changes they’re experiencing than someone with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

“But as Alzheimer’s progresses, that awareness slips away, and a person actually becomes less aware of the problem as the problems get more severe,” the expert said, adding that in contrast with FTD, there’s less overall awareness.

Emma reiterated in her interview that Bruce is “still very much present in his body,” noting that as his FTD has progressed, “we have progressed along with him. We’ve adapted along with him.”