Bruce Willis to donate brain to science amid dementia battle

Actor Bruce Willis, 71, is facing advanced frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a condition that has led to his retirement from acting. His family has announced that he will donate his brain to science following his death to help advance research and improve the detection of the disease.

His wife, Emma Heming Willis, and daughter, Rumer Willis, have shared updates on his condition. While the disease significantly impacts his ability to communicate, Emma Heming Willis noted that because he has FTD rather than Alzheimer’s, he is still able to recognize his loved ones and maintain emotional bonds.

Willis's medical diagnosis has progressed from an initial diagnosis of aphasia in 2022 to frontotemporal dementia in early 2023, and subsequently anosognosia, a neurological condition that can prevent a person from being aware of their own illness.