Bruce Willis' family to donate brain for dementia research

The family of actor Bruce Willis plans to donate his brain to scientific research following his death. The goal is to improve the understanding of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the disease that led to the end of his acting career in 2022.

Willis, 71, was initially diagnosed with aphasia in 2022 before receiving an FTD diagnosis the following year. His wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five daughters support the decision. Emma Heming Willis described the choice as ‘emotionally difficult, but scientifically necessary.’

FTD is the most common form of dementia in individuals under 60 and currently has no cure. Researchers believe post-mortem brain tissue provides a unique opportunity to study cellular changes associated with the disease. Emma Heming Willis continues to advocate for FTD awareness through a research fund and caregiver support program established in her and Bruce's names.