Hollywood luminary Bruce Willis is now stepping into a role no scriptwriter could have for him. The real-life struggle with Frontotemporal Dementia.
FTD is considered a distant cousin of Alzheimer’s—it’s its own monster. It targets specific brain areas, your frontal and temporal lobes. And then what?
Your personality can flip. Your speech?
Muddled.
Don’t mix this up with Alzheimer’s only. In fact, it’s a whole new interruption.
3 Types of FTD
Three types of FTD make the scene. Each one’s a different brand of trouble:
Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia (bvFTD):
First up is bvFTD, or Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia. This one’s a flipper personality. If you’ve ever seen a loved one act out of character all of a sudden, bvFTD could be the cause.
Meanwhile, this condition can make someone you care about act impulsive. You feel withdrawn or even display unkind behavior. Essentially, it can make them seem like a completely different person. That’s why it can be hard to understand and cope with.
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Next, let’s talk about PPA or Primary Progressive Aphasia. This one attacks your ability to speak and understand language. Such as you’re having a thought but struggling to find the words to express it. Words that used to be familiar become difficult to grasp.
However, basic conversations can feel like navigating a maze. It’s a devastating condition that chips away at your ability to communicate. In the end, it leaves you frustrated and disconnected.
Dementia with Movement Disorders
Lastly, there’s a type of FTD that combines with physical movement disorders, similar to Parkinson’s disease. This is like a double whammy. Since it’s more than mental faculties your physical abilities are compromised as well.
For example, Routine tasks, like walking or holding something, that were once effortless. After that, it can become an almost impossible challenge. And trust me, you’ll want all the help you can get.
Bruce Willis Medical Mystery
Bruce’s latest script doesn’t cover car chases or love triangles.
Yes!
It’s about his life-changing illness. And he’s not the only one in the spotlight. His family has courageously joined him on stage, showing that this issue is bigger than.
What are they asking us to focus on?
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