Emma Heming Willis is sharing a rare update on Bruce Willis as their family continues navigating his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
In a new interview with Hello magazine published on Monday, September 7, Emma, 50, addressed one of the questions she hears most often about Bruce’s condition— whether he still remembers her. Her answer was clear.
“It’s really eye-opening to see that one of the very first questions almost everyone asks me is: ‘Does Bruce still remember you?’ And my answer is always a resounding yes. Bruce doesn’t have Alzheimer’s; he has frontotemporal dementia, which affects a completely different part of the brain.”
Bruce, 71, stepped away from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia. In February 2023, his family announced that doctors had reached a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, also known as FTD.
Emma Heming Willis Says the Family Is Living With Daily Grief
Emma has become a vocal advocate for families and caregivers facing dementia, but she has never pretended that adapting to Bruce’s illness has been easy.
“It is extremely difficult and painful. It’s natural; we all want our loved ones to be healthy, full of life, and the person they always were. But FTD is a devastating illness that steals things from you very slowly. So the reality is that you find yourself constantly in a state of grief.”
She and Bruce share daughters Mabel, 14, and Evelyn, 12. Bruce also shares daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah with former wife Demi Moore. The extended family has remained united around him as his needs have changed.
Bruce Willis’ Family Has Formed a ‘Protective Ring’ Around Him
GettyEmma said the family’s support has helped them through some of the hardest moments. She said their daughters are growing up surrounded by people who keep rallying around Bruce.
“What our daughters are experiencing and witnessing at home every single day is a masterclass in pure love,” Emma said.
She added that family and friends have “formed a protective ring around him.” Emma has also been honest about the toll caregiving can take. She said her daughters have seen both her strength and her most difficult moments.
“My daughters have seen me be strong, of course, but they’ve also seen me broken on the floor,” she said.
Emma added, “At the end of the day, I’m only human. I think they’re very aware that I’m doing the best I can.”
Looking Back at Their Life Before Dementia Can Be ‘Too Painful’
Emma revisited the beginning of their relationship while writing her caregiving book, “The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path.”
Remembering those earlier years proved unexpectedly difficult. “It’s just too painful to look back at that time that was so full of fun, laughter and tremendous joy. It hurts to think back to that time. Writing that first chapter forced me to remember and to dive deeply into the details of why I fell madly in love with my husband.”
The book grew out of Emma’s experience navigating Bruce’s diagnosis and her desire to give other caregivers resources she did not initially have.
Emma Heming Willis Is Speaking Out About Dementia Misconceptions
Emma has increasingly used her platform to encourage more accurate conversations about FTD and to challenge the assumption that every dementia diagnosis looks the same.
Her latest update also makes clear that Bruce’s illness has not erased the bonds at the center of his family.
While Emma has spoken candidly about grief, guilt, and the changes dementia has brought into their home, she continues to emphasize the love and connection that remain.
