Bruce Willis, the 67-year-old “Die Hard” actor, was seen publicly for the first time after his family revealed he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
In photos and video obtained by the Daily Mail, Willis appeared confused while grabbing coffee with two friends in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday.
During the outing, Willis sported a grey beanie, blue sweatshirt and black pants, which he paired with a black watch. At one point, he kept walking towards the paparazzi who gushed over him before he was ushered to the car by one of his friends. Once he was inside, the friend glanced over at the paps and said, “Really, guys?”
Two weeks ago, Willis’ family announced that he had been diagnosed with the “cruel disease,” which can cause slowed movement, stiffness, balance problems, and changes in behavior or language.
FTD is the most common form of dementia for people under 60, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than people know.
There are no treatments for the disease, but Willis’ family hopes any media attention can shed a light on the illness “that needs more awareness and research.”
Last March, Willis’ family announced that he had aphasia, a medical condition that can affect a person’s ability to speak, write, and understand language, both verbal and written, and would be stepping away from acting.
Since then, Willis’ relatives have given fans updates on his health. Most recently, his wife, Emma Heming, shared that she met with dementia specialist Teepa Snow to learn more about how to care for her husband.
»Bruce Willis, 67, publicly seen for the first time since dementia diagnosis«
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