The actor Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, appeared on The Today Show on NBC’s ” The Today Show” to discuss the actor’s diagnosis of frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Emma said that the disease, which is one of the numerous types of Dementia, can be very difficult for the person who is diagnosed and the family.
Frontotemporal Dementia is a class of conditions that develop when the neurons in the temporal and frontal regions of the brain have been damaged, as per the National Institute on Aging. Trusted SourceThe lobes shrink, which affects the personality, behavior, and language as well as movements.
Heming Willis said to Hoda Kotb on The Today Show that she isn’t sure whether she is aware that her husband has an illness.
“It’s hard to know,” Heming Willis said to Kotb.
The inability to recognize the condition of oneself is definitely possible. It could make the lives of those suffering from the disease, as well as the people who care for them, not just challenging but emotionally difficult.
“FTD, in a nutshell, is a condition that leads to brain cells slowly not working or dying over time, which is called neurodegeneration,” explained Dr. Joel Salinas, Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at NYU Langone Health and Chief Medical Officer at Isaac Health. “Whenever a family member is diagnosed [with dementia] it’s a diagnosis for the whole family.”
What is frontotemporal Dementia?
“Dementia is a general term that we use for cognitive impairment, which is a decline from the previous level of functioning and is significant (or severe) enough to interfere with a person’s ability to manage their activities of daily living, like managing finances or medications, driving, bathing, etc,” said Dr. Marzena Gieniusz, a geriatrician at Northwell Health.
She further states that different kinds of Dementia share a lot that is common to all types, such as the presence of overlapping symptoms and signs. However, certain particular characteristics are more prevalent for certain types of Dementia than others.
Problems with language are more frequently diagnosed in the early stages of FTD as opposed to the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s Dementia.
“There are different forms of ‘Frontotemporal Dementia’ but in general, this type of Dementia is caused by injury to neurons and abnormal accumulation of proteins in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain,” Gieniusz said. “This type of dementia often affects people earlier in life than most of the other types of dementia and is typically diagnosed in the mid-40s to mid-60s.”
The symptoms can include changes in personality and behavior and difficulties in controlling emotions. Loss of judgment, issues with movement, and problems communicating or having problems with language.
Do people know about their situation?
It’s not clear the extent to which patients with FTD are conscious of their decline in cognition.
“A particular symptom that is associated with these disorders is referred to as “lack of insight. Anosognosia is a medical term. It’s the inability to notice or even be aware of the changes that occur,” said Salinas. “When somebody is affected more in the frontal lobes, that’s more likely to be the case.”
The more severe the symptoms are, the more likely patients are to suffer from an inability to comprehend.
“One of the most frustrating issues relatives, adult children and spouses might experience is that they believe the patient is denial. Although this may be the case in certain instances however, in other cases it could be that they do not have the knowledge,” Salinas said.
Mental health care for caregivers
Dementia is a complicated disorder that is multifaceted. It affects people in all ways: physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and financially. The disease also affects all who take care of patients, which is especially difficult as there’s a lot we don’t know or comprehend about the condition and the fact that there’s no cure.
“What I’m discovering is that the process of aging is difficult. It’s tough on those who suffer from it. It’s equally hard for the family. This isn’t different for Bruce or me, or the girls.” Hemming Willis said of her family’s experience of the illness.
“This can be frustrating for everyone,” Gieniusz added. “Understanding the illness and obtaining the right diagnosis is usually hard enough, but it’s an uphill battle to navigate our confusing and resource-strapped healthcare system to assist those they love, as they try to take care of their own lives simultaneously. It’s not uncommon for caregivers disregard their own health in order to take care of loved ones.”
This is the reason caregivers and patients must get in touch with a group of experts who are knowledgeable about the condition and can aid.
Salinas stated that the first step caregivers should take is to determine what they require in the present. For some, that feeling of being supported is based on having knowledge and learning as much as they can for others who need emotional support. Another reason caregivers might require approval is physical assistance at home, be it to keep an eye on appointments or assist with daily tasks such as showering, bathing, and dressing.
“It’s an extremely long and challenging process. It is possible to feel like loneliness, isolation anxiety, and even abandonment. I believe there are many ways that these things can be resolved. Although these issues may not have a solution however, they can be addressed by addressing others like loneliness, isolation, and feeling isolated from your family,” he said.
“We often remind caregivers about the importance of self-care, and not just for their own benefit but also for the fact that they can’t do their best to care for others if they are not doing well themselves,” Gieniusz said. “Even little acts of self-care may be a big help making sure they are on time with their appointments for medical care, eat nutritious meals and exercise regularly, as well as doing something that they like doing every day even if it’s listening to their favourite music while driving. Every little bit counts.”
Are you able to test for or prevent Dementia?
One of the most effective methods to assist patients or their family members in coping with the challenges of Dementia is to detect it early and make a diagnosis. The earlier you can plan for the future, the more efficient it is.
There are tests available to aid clinicians in diagnosing Dementia and in identifying other diseases. Still, the diagnosis is usually complex and requires a thorough examination, which includes a detailed interview with the patient, laboratory tests, and other tests when necessary.
“Genetic factors can alter people’s chances for developing Dementia. It could be genetic,” said Gieniusz. “Therefore genetic tests are sometimes performed to aid in diagnosis or to determine the risk for those who are genetically related to a person suffering from Dementia. It is nevertheless important to remember that not all with a genetic predisposition can develop the disease.”
The risk factors that increase the chance of developing Dementia as well. The general guidelines include healthy lifestyle practices like not smoking, abstaining from or limiting drinking alcohol, reducing stress levels, maintaining regular exercise and a wholesome diet routine, maximizing cognitive capacity, and ensuring that you get enough sleep.
In the event of any changes in cognitive function that indicate an improvement from the normal operation, it’s important to discuss the changes with your primary care physician.
