Bruce Willis’ Family Advances Dementia Awareness Initiative

August 25, 2025 | Los Angeles

Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, marked a major advocacy victory today as the California State Legislature passed a resolution officially designating September 21-27, 2025, as Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) Awareness Week. Heming Willis joined members of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento to witness the bipartisan measure’s unanimous approval, a milestone she described as “more than symbolic-it’s a lifeline of recognition for every family touched by FTD.”

In an emotional Instagram post, Heming Willis thanked California lawmakers and the advocacy community for their support. “We are grateful to the California Legislature for recognizing FTD Awareness Week; September 21st-27th, and to the elected officials who made this possible,” she wrote. “This resolution is a lifeline of recognition for every family touched by FTD.”

Since Bruce Willis’s retirement in March 2022 prompted by an aphasia diagnosis and the family’s announcement in early 2023 of his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, Heming Willis has emerged as a leading voice for caregivers and those affected by dementia. This legislative recognition follows her recent efforts to secure more comprehensive resources and representation for FTD on state and national advisory committees.

Heming Willis also used today’s announcement to preview her forthcoming memoir, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, set for release on September 9, 2025. The book aims to equip caregivers with practical guidance and emotional support drawn from her personal experiences caring for Willis and raising their two young daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.