Sharing a health update of the beloved actor Bruce Willis, his wife Emma Hemmings opened up about how the condition is affecting the actor. In an interview with NewsNation, she spoke on the misconception that the Die-Hard superstar had Alzheimer’s. “FTD isn’t Alzheimer’s,” she stressed. She clarified that while Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) affects his ability to communicate and behave, “Bruce doesn’t have Alzheimer’s. So, he does know who we are.” She noted that while he struggles to verbalize his love, words are not necessary for their family. "We don’t need words," she said. "We have a very deep connection, and we have learned to sort of meet him where he’s at." FTD symptoms can include difficulty with speech, changes in personality, and slow movements, and there is currently no cure. The Alzheimer’s Research Association explains that dementia is an "umbrella term" used to describe problems with memory, thinking, and reasoning. It's not a single disease. Instead, diseases like Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's are two different causes that lead to similar, but different symptoms. It is very important for doctors to know the differences between FTD and Alzheimer's. Getting the correct diagnosis early helps patients get the right treatment sooner. This can greatly improve their health and overall quality of life. How Is FTD Different from Alzheimer’s Disease? The biggest difference between these two conditions is which part of the brain they damage first. This difference explains why the early symptoms are so distinct. What Part of the Brain Does FTD affect? Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), as its name suggests, mainly affects the front (frontal) and sides (temporal) of the brain. These areas are like the control center for your personality, behavior, and language skills. For example, the frontal lobe handles judgment and controlling your emotions, and the temporal lobe helps you process what you hear and form memories. What Part of the Brain Does Alzheimer’s Affect? In contrast, Alzheimer's disease usually starts by damaging areas crucial for memory, such as the hippocampus. These are the parts of the brain that help you learn new things and retrieve old memories. As Alzheimer's gets worse, the damage spreads to more areas of the brain, affecting memory, behavior, language, and even how you see things. What Ages Do FTD and Alzheimer’s Typically Start? Another key difference is when people usually start showing symptoms. FTD often begins when people are younger, typically between 40 and 60 years old. This is why it's sometimes called an earlier-onset dementia. Alzheimer's is much more common in older adults, usually affecting people who are 65 and over. Getting older is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's, but remember, it is not a normal part of getting older or healthy aging. How Are The Symptoms of FTD different from Alzheimer’s? While both diseases cause dementia, the first symptoms are usually very distinct, which helps doctors tell them apart. In early Alzheimer's, the main symptom is memory loss. Often forgetting recent conversations or events.Having trouble with spatial orientation, which means they might get lost in places they know well.Struggle to find the right word, their ability to speak clearly and understand others usually stays better for longer than in FTD.Delusions or hallucinations also happen more often as Alzheimer's gets worse.In early FTD, the initial signs are usually behavioral changes or language problems. Acting impulsivelyLose their filter in conversationBecome very withdrawn.This is common in the most frequent type of FTD, called behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD). In another type of FTD called Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), the first problem is a difficulty with, SpeakingUnderstanding languageWriting.While people with advanced FTD will eventually have memory loss, it's not the primary symptom at the beginning.How Has FTD Affected Bruce Willis? In the interview Emma Hemmings admitted Bruce is unaware of his frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis. She explained that it is a part of the disease itself for the person not to realize their health is declining. When asked about a fear that Willis might have voiced his distress about his condition, she confirmed: "The person doesn’t realize that they are experiencing a decline in their health. So it’s not denial; this is just a part of the disease. So, it’s a blessing and a curse. But I am grateful that Bruce never tapped into the idea that he had FTD.”
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