• Bruce Willis’ wife has stated that an early sign of his dementia was first dismissed as stuttering.
• Experts say frontotemporal dementia itself does not cause stuttering.
• However, its associated language issues can make an existing stutter worse.
• Early warning signs can also include changes in personality, behavior, or motor function.
• If you spot the warning signs, it’s a good idea to speak with your primary care provider.

According to Emma Heming Willis, wife of action hero Bruce Willis, her husband’s frontotemporal dementia (FTD) was initially dismissed as a return of childhood stuttering.

Speaking in an interview with Katie Couric for Town & Country, she explained: “He had a severe stutter as a child. He went to college, and there was a theater teacher who said, ‘I’ve got something that’s going to help you.’”

Heming Willis said this is where Bruce got his start in acting since he realized that he could memorize a script and say his lines without stuttering.

“Bruce has always had a stutter, but he has been good at covering it up,” she said. So, when he began to experience difficulties with language, it seemed like it was just a part of his stutter.

“Never in a million years would I think it would be a form of dementia for someone so young,” said Heming Willis.

How common is stuttering as a warning sign of FTD?

Stephanie Jeret, who is a speech-language pathologist and the founder of Speak with Stephanie, said stuttering is not commonly associated with FTD.

This condition mainly impacts people’s ability to understand and use language, she said.

“For instance, Bruce Willis had developmental stuttering that likely persisted into adulthood,” said Jeret.

“He may have developed coping strategies to manage it, but with the onset of FTD, he could have experienced a regression in his language skills, leading to overt stuttering as a symptom of this decline rather than a direct symptom of FTD.”

Jason Krellman, PhD, a Neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, agreed with Jeret.

“Stuttering is itself not considered a typical first symptom,” he said. “But stuttering could be caused by more common early symptoms such as changes in word finding and sentence construction or changes in the person’s ability to physically articulate words.”

According to Krellman, changes in personality and behavior, language, or motor functioning are usually seen early in the development of FTD.

“People can become withdrawn or impulsive, rigid, and socially inappropriate,” he said. “They can have difficulty finding words or understanding language. They can have spasms, tremors, or weakness.”

How to get help when you spot FTD warning signs

Krellman added that it can be challenging for patients and healthcare providers alike to tease out whether what’s being seen is indeed FTD symptoms or just a natural part of aging, stress, psychological problems, or, as in the case of Willis, another medical condition.

“For example, word-finding difficulty is a common feature of normal cognitive aging, motor changes can be due to musculoskeletal problems like arthritis, and people can tend to socially isolate themselves or become irritable, more easily agitated, and therefore appear socially inappropriate when they’re depressed,” he said.

Additionally, FTD can come on slowly and progress so gradually that you might not notice the differences right away, said Krellman, comparing it to noticing the hands of a clock moving.

However, Krellman says people should contact a primary care provider any time they have concerns, keeping in mind that the person themself may not notice the changes.

“A PCP can do an initial evaluation to decide whether to refer the person to a neurologist for further evaluation,” he said.

Krellman went on to offer reassurance, stating that “FTD is pretty uncommon, and it is much more likely than not that any concerning symptoms are due to normal aging or a more common and potentially treatable condition.”

He noted, however, that if symptoms are getting worse over time and having a negative impact on a person’s daily functioning, it’s always a good idea to get a checkup.

He added that in addition to seeing your primary care physician, organizations like the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and the Alzheimer’s Association can provide support and educational resources.

Takeaway

In a recent interview with Town & Country, Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, discussed her husband’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, revealing that they first thought his worsening stuttering was simply a part of a condition that he had had since his youth.

Experts say that stuttering itself is not a symptom of FTD.

However, the language difficulties associated with FTD can make it more difficult for a person to control their existing stuttering.

People can also experience changes in personality, behavior, and motor functioning.

If you or someone you know is showing early warning signs — especially if they are growing worse or negatively affecting daily functioning — you should seek an evaluation with a primary care provider.