Emma Heming Willis Gets Honest About Bruce's Dementia: "Constant State of Grief"

Emma Heming Willis is opening up about what life looks like for her family right now, and she’s not holding back. In a new interview with Hello! magazine, Bruce Willis’wife described the family’s ongoing grief as they care for him through frontotemporal dementia.“It is extremely difficult and painful,”she said. Bruce was diagnosed with FTD in February 2023, about a year after stepping away from acting due to aphasia.

Emma also wants to clear up a big misconception. When people ask if Bruce has Alzheimer’s, she says her answer is a resounding no. FTD affects a completely different part of the brain than Alzheimer’s does, and she’s pushing for media coverage of dementia to be more accurate and less fear-driven. It’s a lesson plenty of caregiving families across the country already know firsthand.

There’s tenderness in this story, too. Emma says all five of Bruce’s daughters, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn, have each built their own unique bond with him. And in August, Bruce was photographed at Tallulah’s wedding, celebrating with her and her new husband. Moments like that are what families hold on to.

Have you ever cared for a loved one through dementia? What helped you most? Share your story in the comments.