Dr. Pao interview: Bruce Willis diagnosed with rare form of dementia.

20 Feb Dr. Pao interview: Bruce Willis diagnosed with rare form of dementia.

ATLANTIS, Fla. — One of Hollywood’s most iconic actors is hoping to be remembered for something other than acting.

Bruce Willis’ family said Thursday he hopes to be known as the person who brought awareness to a disease called frontotemporal dementia or FTD.

Family announced Thursday that Willis has been diagnosed with FTD, a disease that causes parts of the brain to degenerate.

“Those parts of the brain involve decision-making, judgment, personality,” Dr. Linda Pao said.

Pao is a neurologist and clinical director for JEM Research Institute in Atlantis.

She said FTD is a very rare form of dementia that is most commonly shown as patients begin to have trouble with language or a change in behavior.

“They just seem odd,” Pao said. “They may have odd thinking or someone changing their personality.”

According to the Florida Alzheimer’s Association, only 50-60,000 people in the United States have FTD.

By comparison, Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia with 6.5 million Americans suffering from the disease.

While Alzheimer’s impacts mostly older people, FTD can strike patients as young as 40 years old.

Pao said there is no cure for FTD nor is there a treatment that slows the disease’s progression.

She said doctors normally prescribe medications to treat the symptoms.

Pao said she hopes Willis’ announcement leads to more research and more help for patients.

“Bruce Willis coming out today has really been quite helpful,” she said. “It helps with awareness.”