Ronald Reagan's Daughter Issues Warning To Bruce Willis' Family About Dementia

Former US president Ronald Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis, has shared her sympathy and advice to Bruce and his family after they recently announced the actor's frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.

In an opinion piece for The New York Times, the 70-year-old actress and author reflected on her late father's decision to go public with his Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in 1994.

Ronald had been out of office for five years when he wrote a letter to his country detailing his condition. In the piece, Patti recalled how she heard about her father's decision.

Patti said her mom, Nancy Reagan, called her phone at an odd time of the day, telling her that Ronald had written the letter, which would be released a few hours later.

Upon hearing the news, the actress recalled looking down at the street, which had people hurrying along on their way to somewhere, and feeling time slow down.

However, Patti said she wasn't surprised as it wasn't out of place for Ronald to want the country to know, as the former president's loyalty to his home country ran deep.

Next, the Sacrifices of the Heart star said the decision to write the letter was all her father's idea, and she couldn't be prouder of him because of his honesty.

After reflecting on what transpired before the letter was released on November 5, 1994, Patti shared her concern for the Pulp Fiction star and his family, pointing out the differences in the diseases.

The author began by revealing that Bruce and his family might have a harder road to travel than her family did. According to Patti, frontotemporal dementia was radically different from Alzheimer's.

Patti disclosed that people with Bruce's illness could become unrecognizable in their outbursts and aggressive and voracious behavior. Next, she explained the two main variants of the diagnosis.

Patti said the first had to do with behavior. In contrast, the other had to do with language or aphasia, which Bruce was diagnosed with last year — aphasia is the loss of language comprehension. 

Next, the actress pointed out the other cause of frontotemporal dementia, noting that it usually struck people when they were younger, often in their 40s or 50s — Bruce is 67.

Afterward, Patti, who started the support group Beyond Alzheimer's for caregivers and family, advised those around the Willis family.

Patti hoped that as the Willis family went down the unpredictable and heartbreaking road, those around would remember that "simply being there" was often all they could do.

The actress further relayed that there was no sidestepping the grief, pain, and helplessness, but there was the possibility of a human wall of comfort the Willis family could lean on.

Patti said she experienced the human wall of comfort after Ronald announced his diagnosis, adding that their family received numerous calls from strangers asking how they were doing.

The actress also pointed out that the Willis family would never know how much making Bruce's diagnosis public would affect other families in the same situation.

According to Patti, such families, who the Willis family would never meet, would feel a little less lonely because of the decision to announce a diagnosis that ripped one's heart apart.

Despite how painful Bruce's condition is, the Willis family is relieved to have a clear diagnosis. Fans, celebrities, and friends' prayers remain with the Willis family in this difficult time.