Die Hard actor Bruce Willis is suffering from a medical condition that is affecting his cognitive abilities. Hence, he will take a back seat from acting, his family shared on their respective Instagram channels on March 31.

Bruce Willis’ Family Releases a Joint Statement

Bruce Willis’ ex-wife Demi Moore and his now spouse Emma Heming Willis revealed to the people Bruce’s health condition. Rummer, Scout, Tallulah, who are Bruce and Demi’s daughters, also posted about it on their Instagram platforms.

They all shared the same photo with a unified caption saying,

“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, ” they said.

“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion, and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him,” the post continued.

They all ended it leaving the people with what Bruce would always say, “Live it up,” which is how they plan to do it all together.

In the sign, they also included Mabel and Evelyn who are the younger daughters of Bruce with Emma.

What is Aphasia?

In the post, they mentioned that the 67-year-old actor is suffering from a language disorder called aphasia. This is due to damage to the portion(s) of the brain responsible for controlling language expression and comprehension. In other words, it impairs one’s ability to communicate effectively with others. Moreover, it can also affect one’s reading and writing skills.

Aphasia typically develops suddenly, often as a result of a stroke or head injury. But it can also develop gradually as a result of a brain tumor or a progressive neurological disease.

Additionally, it may comorbid with speech disorders due to brain damage such as the following:

• Dysarthria
• Apraxia of speech

Other conditions that may co-occur with it include:

• Visual difficulties
• Mobility issues
• Limb weakness
• Problems involving memory or thinking skills

Different Types of Aphasia

Aphasia comes in a variety of forms. These are typically diagnosed based on which area of the brain’s language-dominant side is affected and the extent of the damage.

One common method of categorizing this particular language disorder is through these three factors:

• Speech fluency. Can the person speak easily and in sentences (fluent)? Or only just a few words every single time which also requires a great amount of effort (non-fluent)?
• Language comprehension. Is the person’s understanding of either spoken or written words good or bad?
• Repeatability. Is the person likely to repeat words and phrases?

Aside from those, many clinicians also classify the condition as either expressive or receptive:

• Expressive. How difficult is it for the person to express thoughts and ideas through speaking or writing?
• Receptive. How difficult is it for the person to understand verbal or written language?

How is Aphasia Treated?

Several individuals with aphasia recover completely on their own. However, most people retain some degree of aphasia. Treatments such as speech therapy can often help people regain some of their speech and language functions over time. But there are some who may still struggle to communicate.

This can be frustrating and challenging at times for both the person with aphasia and family members. It is essential for family members to learn the most ways of communicating with their loved one. Speech therapists can frequently assist with this concern.

Depending on a person’s needs and the services provided, one may get speech and language therapy on an individual or group basis.

Moreover, there is a growing number of computer-based applications available to help people living with it.

Learn more about Other Brain and Nervous System Issues here.