First photos of Bruce Willis since his dementia diagnosis

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by Leah Betsky

March 3, 2023 | 5:00 pm

Bruce Willis kept things casual while going for a walk with his friends Thursday after being diagnosed with dementia.

Willis, 67, enjoyed a casual outing with two friends by his side in Santa Monica, California, in his first public sighting since the health news broke last month.

The “Die Hard” star was dressed comfortably, wearing a blue crew-neck sweater, black slacks, sneakers, and a gray beanie.

The Willis family announced on Feb. 16 that the actor had recently been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

“Although this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” his wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore, and five daughters said in a joint statement on the Frontotemporal Degeneration Society’s website.

“FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have not heard of and can affect anyone. For people under the age of 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because obtaining a diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely more prevalent than we know.” “.

The family has made it clear that there is no cure for FTD and that they hope Willis’ diagnosis will spread awareness.

“Bruce has always found joy in life – and has helped everyone he knows do the same. It has meant the world to see this feeling of care reverberate for him and all of us,” the statement said. hard time.

“Your continued compassion, understanding and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible.”

Although there is no known cure, Hemming, 44, said this week that she met with dementia specialist Tippa Snow to learn the best ways to care for her husband.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with teepasnows_pac who has helped me add to my dementia care tools,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.

“She is a loving, compassionate, and skilled leader in this space who navigates with pure empathy. She is a gift. Head to the link in my bio because her website contains a wealth of caregiving information that you may also find helpful.”

His condition has worsened since last March, when Willis’ family announced he would be away from work after being diagnosed with aphasia, a medical condition that can affect a person’s ability to speak, write, and understand verbal and written language.

Hemming shared a heartbreaking post saying she was grappling with “crippling” grief months after being diagnosed with Willis’ aphasia.

“I’m learning to live side by side [sic] I wrote on Instagram last August.

Willis and Heming married in 2009 and have two daughters: Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8. He also has three daughters — Rumer, 34, Scott, 31, and Tallulah, 29 — with Moore, whom he was married to from 1987 to 2000. .