# Bruce Willis family FTD advocacy and research efforts > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bruce-willis-family-ftd-advocacy-and-research-efforts > Updated: 2026-08-31T20:14:34.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 4. The family of actor Bruce Willis has engaged in public advocacy and scientific contributions regarding frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Following Willis’s diagnosis of aphasia in 2022 and FTD in 2023, his daughter Rumer Willis utilized genetic testing to assess her own Alzheimer’s risk, noting that access to such information provides a “sense of power.” Partnering with the health service Function, Rumer Willis underwent an APOE genetic test to assess her risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. She described the process of seeking answers as “terrifying” but emphasized that “information is power,” noting her results indicated an “average” risk level. She also highlighted the need for increased public conversation regarding FTD, which affects language, behavior, and mobility. In addition to her genetic testing, Rumer has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of her father’s condition, expressing grief for the “different version” of him she once knew while striving to remain supportive as his neurological condition progresses. Recent updates indicate the disease has progressed to include anosognosia, a condition that can prevent a person from being aware of their own illness. Emma Heming Willis noted that because Willis has FTD rather than Alzheimer’s, he remains able to recognize loved ones and maintain emotional bonds. To further medical understanding, the Willis family—including his wife Emma Heming Willis, ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five daughters—has decided to donate his brain to scientific research. Emma Heming Willis described the choice as “emotionally difficult, but scientifically necessary.” This decision aims to study the cellular changes associated with FTD to improve disease detection and develop future treatments. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-31: Bruce Willis to donate brain to science amid dementia battle Actor Bruce Willis will donate his brain to scientific research to aid studies on frontotemporal dementia following his diagnosis of FTD, aphasia, and anosognosia. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bruce-willis-to-donate-brain-to-science-amid-dementia-battle ### 2026-08-29: Bruce Willis' family to donate brain for dementia research The family of actor Bruce Willis will donate his brain to science to advance research into frontotemporal dementia, the neurodegenerative disease that led to his retirement from acting. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bruce-willis-family-to-donate-brain-for-dementia-research-1 ### 2026-08-24: Bruce Willis' family to donate brain for dementia research The family of actor Bruce Willis intends to donate his brain to scientific research to help study frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the disease that ended his career. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bruce-willis-family-to-donate-brain-for-dementia-research ### 2026-08-24: Rumer Willis reveals Alzheimer's risk results following father's dementia diagnosis Rumer Willis has revealed her APOE genetic test results, which showed an average risk for Alzheimer’s, following her father Bruce Willis’s diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. 20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rumer-willis-discusses-alzheimers-risk-and-ftd-awareness --- Cite as: Bruce Willis family FTD advocacy and research efforts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bruce-willis-family-ftd-advocacy-and-research-efforts