Overview

• Heming Willis describes frontotemporal dementia as aggressive yet says Bruce is doing very well overall as the family adapts to his evolving needs.
• She recounts early signs dating to around 2015, including a return of childhood stuttering, followed by an aphasia diagnosis and confirmation of FTD in 2023.
• The caregiver role initially felt isolating, and after a neurologist’s warning about caregiver risk, she began accepting help and outlined living arrangements tailored to his care.
• Her book, O rumo inesperado, aims to share the family’s experience and offer practical guidance to others facing dementia at home.
• Experts in the coverage stress that FTD has no cure, is frequently misdiagnosed, affects behavior and language, and is best managed with multidisciplinary therapies to preserve quality of life.