PPA, the disease that actor Bruce Willis has, is a rare and lesser-known neurological condition. It is caused by changes in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are largely responsible for language and executive functioning.
How long ago was Bruce Willis diagnosed with aphasia?
Before his family publicly shared his diagnosis in 2023, they revealed in March 2022 that he had to step away from Hollywood because he was experiencing a disorder called aphasia. Aphasia occurs when a person struggles with speaking, understanding, reading or writing.
What is the life expectancy of someone with frontotemporal dementia?
Someone with FTD will get worse as time goes on. The average life span for someone with FTD is 7 to 13 years after the start of symptoms. But, many factors play into a person's life expectancy. Some people with FDT may live 20 years after the onset of the disease.
In most cases, the cause of a FTD is unknown. Individuals with a family history of FTD are more likely to develop such a disorder. About 10 to 30% of bvFTD is due to specific genetic causes. FTD that runs in a family is often related to variants (permanent changes) in certain genes.
Bruce Willis diagnosed with aphasia: What is this brain condition?
Who usually gets frontotemporal dementia?
FTD is one of the most common dementias to strike at younger people. Symptoms often start between the ages of 40 and 65. But FTD can strike young adults and those who are older. FTD affects men and women equally.
Currently, there are no approved treatments for FTD, and there is no cure. People diagnosed with FTD face a life expectancy ranging from 7 to 13 years. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with an FTD disorder.
Bruce Willis, known for his iconic roles, has had to give up some of his cherished pastimes due to a diagnosis of dementia. His ability to communicate has also been affected, and he can no longer speak as he once did.
What is the youngest person with frontotemporal dementia?
The youngest onset age reported thus far is 14 years [4], although this is relatively rare in clinical practice. The most challenging subtype in young patients is the behavioral variant (bvFTD).
People with FTD often lack insight, which means they can't recognize their symptoms or condition. Because they can't see the problem, they often don't believe they need medical care or treatment. That lack of understanding can lead to frustration or fear for the person with the symptoms and their loved ones.
(WISH) — Two very popular public figures have recently come forward with their diagnoses of frontotemporal dementia: award-winning actor Bruce Willis and well-known media personality Wendy Williams. Here is exactly what this disorder is and some important information that may be helpful.
Stroke is the most common cause, but aphasia can also occur after head injuries or a brain tumor. Another type of aphasia can occur when brain tissue deteriorates with age. The Willis family has not released the cause of the actor's aphasia.
For the most part, aphasia is a treatable language and speech disorder, associated with stroke and other kinds of brain injury, and can be treated with speech, language, and cognitive therapy.
As such, the most likely sources of Mr. Willis' aphasia would be FTD or Alzheimer's disease pathology. People familiar with PPA were thus unsurprised 10 months later (on February 16, 2023) when Mr.
Darla Miles has more. Former talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with dementia and aphasia, she and her medical team said in a statement released Thursday. Williams has been open in the past about her prolonged health struggles, which included Graves' disease and a thyroid condition.
What are the final stages of primary progressive aphasia?
People with primary progressive aphasia eventually lose the ability to speak and write. This may take anywhere from 3 to 15 years. They also have trouble understanding written and spoken language. Some people are not able to form sounds to speak, even when they still have the ability to write and comprehend language.
Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce's condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.
The life expectancy for a patient with frontotemporal dementia, the type of aphasia affecting Williams and Willis, averages seven to 13 years after the onset of symptoms.
What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?
In summary, dementia is an overarching term that refers to a range of symptoms affecting cognitive abilities, while Alzheimer's disease is a specific type of dementia characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Other types of dementia exist, each with its own distinct causes and characteristics.
Introduction: The five-word test (5WT) is a serial verbal memory test with semantic cuing. It is proposed to rapidly evaluate memory of aging people and has previously shown its sensitivity and its specificity in identifying patients with AD.
