Bruce Willis’ wife shares dementia caused marriage tension after revealing they live in separate homes

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Emma Heming, Bruce Willis‘ wife, disclosed that their relationship experienced a change due to the stress caused by his dementia condition.

In 2022, he stepped away from Hollywood due to a diagnosis of aphasia, a health issue that affects one’s ability to communicate effectively by causing language deterioration.

In the year 2023, my loved ones shared the heart-wrenching news that my condition had advanced, and I was officially diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). This revelation marked a significant turning point in my journey.

Initially, Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) doesn’t lead to memory loss, but instead targets regions of the brain responsible for language expression and personality traits.

Now, Emma, the one who arranged for Bruce to live in his own home under the care of a dedicated team, is preparing to release a book titled “The Unforeseen Voyage” that discusses caring for him.

In a conversation during an interview for her memoir, she explained to People that FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia) doesn’t shout loudly; instead, it quietly hints. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly where Bruce ended and where his illness began, she added.

I began to observe that his stutter returned, making our discussions less coherent. I found it difficult to identify the cause or understand the situation better.

Trouble began to seep into their domestic life, causing a strain in the marriage that neither partner had previously encountered. This strain affected them particularly due to their shared responsibility of raising daughters Mabel, age 13, and Evelyn, age 11.

Emma stated, “For many folks, once they receive a diagnosis, they’ve essentially taken on the role associated with it.” She went on to explain that Bruce’s official illness diagnosis brought about a sense of relief: “It was like understanding, ‘Ah, this isn’t my husband, but rather this disease is affecting parts of his brain.'” In essence, she felt more compassionate.

At the onset of his illness, she found herself feeling incredibly lonely and too afraid to speak up to anyone, balancing between taking care of him, raising their kids, and maintaining some level of confidentiality for him.

47-years-old expressed, ‘For such a prolonged period, I was engulfed by deep sorrow and gloom. It seemed as though our circumstances were uniquely affecting us.’

Her approach to dealing with her situation developed when she recognized that discussing it publicly could aid in early diagnosis for others, encouraging them to seek medical help promptly, thereby facilitating earlier entry into clinical trials.

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2025-09-03 16:49