Bruce Willis Has Aphasia, To Quit Acting. Know All About The Brain Disorder
Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage in the area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension.
New Delhi: Action hero Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a neurological disorder that impacts language and speech.
Willis’ family, which consists of wife Emma Heming Willis and their two daughters, Mabel Ray and Evelyn Penn; ex-wife Demi Moore and their three daughters, Rumer, Scout and Tallulah, said in a joint statement on social media that the actor was having “cognitive” issues due to his recent diagnosis.
Moore posted the statement on Instagram which read: "To Bruce's amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
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Willis, 67, gained widespread recognition as an action hero after his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. His other notable works include Pulp Fiction, Sixth Sense, Last Man Standing, Armageddon, among others.
What Is Aphasia?
Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage in the area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center, New York.
Aphasia leaves a person unable to communicate effectively with others and is usually diagnosed based on which area of the language-dominant side of the brain is affected, and the extent of the damage.
A person might have different levels of ability to speak and understand others, depending on which areas of the brain are affected.
Both men and women are affected equally by aphasia. Many people are diagnosed with aphasia after a stroke. Most people with the disorder are in middle to old age.
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Aphasia could be of different types. These include Broca aphasia, Wernicke aphasia, and global aphasia.
People diagnosed with Broca aphasia have damage to the front part of the language-dominant side of the brain.
In case of Wernicke aphasia, there is damage to the side of the language-dominant part of the brain.
Global aphasia causes damage to a large part of the brain that controls language.
Causes Of Aphasia
Damage to the language-dominant side of the brain, usually the left side, causes aphasia. The disorder may be brought on by stroke, head injury, brain tumour, infection, and/or dementia.
Whether aphasia causes the complete loss of language structure, or causes problems in how language is accessed and used, is currently not known.
Symptoms Of Aphasia
The symptoms of aphasia depend on which type of the disorder a person has been diagnosed with. Broca aphasia is sometimes called an “expressive aphasia”, and people with the disorder may eliminate the words "and" and "the" from their language, for instance.
People with Broca aphasia may speak in short, but meaningful, sentences. They usually can understand some speech of others, and often have right-sided weakness or paralysis of the arm and leg.
Wernicke aphasia is sometimes called a “receptive aphasia”. People with Wernicke aphasia may speak in long confusing sentences, add unnecessary words, or create new words, and usually have trouble understanding the speech of others.
Global aphasia can cause people to have difficulty with speaking or understanding language.
How Can Aphasia Be Diagnosed?
Aphasia can be diagnosed using language tests done by a speech-language pathologist, which include studying speech, naming, repetition, comprehension, reading, and writing.
Imaging techniques can also be used to observe the brain. These include Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Positron emission tomography (PET).
CT scan is an imaging technique which uses X-rays and a computer to make detailed images of the body.
An MRI uses large magnets, radio frequencies, and a computer to make detailed images of organs and structures in the body.
PET is a computer-based imaging technique which uses radioactive substances to examine body processes.
How Can Aphasia Be Treated?
Treatment will depend on a person’s symptoms, age, and general health, and on how severe the condition is. The goal of treatment is to improve the ability to communicate through methods which may include speech-language therapy; nonverbal communication therapies, such as computers or pictures; and group therapy for patients and their families.
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Can People With Aphasia Fully Recover Without Treatment?
Though some people with aphasia can fully recover without treatment, for most people, some amount of aphasia typically remains. People can improve their speech and language functions over time, with the help of speech therapy. However, many people continue to have problems communicating, which can sometimes be difficult and frustrating both for the person with aphasia and for family members. The best ways to communicate with people with aphasia include involving them in conversations, simplifying language by using short, simple sentences, repeating key words or writing them down to clarify meaning as needed, giving the person plenty of time to express themselves, among others.
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