Bruce Willis is no longer totally verbal after dementia diagnosis

'All those language skills are no longer available to him, and yet he’s still Bruce'

Willis' family first confirmed the Die Hard star was struggling last year before revealing he had been diagnosed with aphasia.

In February this year, Willis' family confirmed that the 68-year-old's illness had progressed to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which can cause problems with behaviour and language.

Since retiring from acting Willis has remained out of the spotlight creator of Willis' '80s series Moonlighting revealed that he is happy that people can still watch the show.

He told the New York Post: “I know he’s really happy that the show is going to be available for people, even though he can’t tell me that.

"When I got to spend time with him we talked about it and I know he’s excited."

Caron added that he tries to see his long-time friend but sadly revealed that Willis is "not always quite that good".

"I try and I do talk to him and his wife [Emma Heming Willis] and I have a casual relationship with his three older children," he continued.

"I have tried very hard to stay in his life. He’s an extraordinary person. The thing that makes [his disease] so mind-blowing is [that] if you’ve ever spent time with Bruce Willis, there is no one who had any more joie de vivre than he. He loved life and … just adored waking up every morning and trying to live life to its fullest.

"When you’re with him you know that he’s Bruce and you’re grateful that he’s there."

Despite that, he admitted that "The joie de vivre is gone".

Caron also confirmed that Willis is no longer totally verbal - saying to Page Six: "My sense is the first one to three minutes he knows who I am. He’s not totally verbal; he used to be a voracious reader - he didn’t want anyone to know that - and he’s not reading now.

"All those language skills are no longer available to him, and yet he’s still Bruce.

"When you’re with him you know that he’s Bruce and you’re grateful that he’s there, but the joie de vivre is gone."

Related links:

• Bruce Willis speaks publicly for first time since dementia diagnosis while celebrating 68th birthday
• Demi Moore shares heartwarming video of family singing happy birthday to Bruce Willis
• Bruce Willis diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia as family release emotional statement