Bruce Willis is facing significant challenges in his battle with dementia, as his wife, Emma Heming Willis, revealed that his brain is "failing him" and his ability to communicate is diminishing. In an interview with Diane Sawyer for an ABC special titled "Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey," Heming Willis shared insights into the actor's condition. "Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know," she said. "It's just his brain that is failing him."

In 2023, Willis' family publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a type of dementia that affects personality and can lead to behavioral changes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the primary symptoms for the 70-year-old actor is the loss of language. Heming Willis noted, "The language is going, and, you know, we've learned to adapt. And we have a way of communicating with him, which is just a ... different way."

Initially, Heming Willis felt isolated in her caregiving role, often staying awake at night to ensure her husband’s safety and avoiding social gatherings to make life easier for him. This experience motivated her to advocate for caregivers and seek more support for families dealing with dementia. She hopes her new book, "The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path," which will be released on September 9, can serve as a guide for others in similar situations.

Despite the challenges, Heming Willis, 47, expressed that she and their daughters, aged 11 and 13, still catch glimpses of Willis' personality. "Not days, but we get moments," she said. "It's his laugh, right? Like, he has such, like, a hearty laugh. And, you know, sometimes you'll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and, you know, I just get, like, transported."

Heming Willis described the early signs of FTD as subtle, noting that Willis began to drift away from family and skip activities he once enjoyed. She emphasized the importance of recognizing these signs, stating, "It felt a little removed, very cold, not like Bruce, who was very warm and affectionate. To [go] the complete opposite of that was alarming and scary."

When Willis was diagnosed with FTD, Heming Willis received a pamphlet about the condition and was informed that no treatments are currently available. She recalled feeling as if she was "free falling" upon hearing the diagnosis.

Dementia affects millions of Americans, with nearly 7 million older adults in the U.S. diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia. Dr. Bruce Miller, a neurologist and leading researcher on FTD, noted that patients often do not fully grasp their diagnosis. "The patient is incredibly unaware of what is happening," he said. "I think the parts of the brain that allow us to suffer and self-reflect are lost very early in frontotemporal dementia."

The ABC special, "Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey," is set to air on August 26 at 8 p.m. ET and will be available for streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.