Aphasia

2022 - 3 - 30

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Aphasia: What's the condition that forced Bruce Willis to quit? (Aljazeera.com)

The veteran Hollywood actor's retirement has drawn attention to the little-known illness that has many causes.

Most commonly, it is caused by a stroke that cuts off blood to part of the brain. “As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” the family said in a statement. The announcement by American actor Bruce Willis that he will be “stepping away” from the big screen has drawn attention to aphasia, a little-known condition with many causes.

Bruce Willis and aphasia: University of Louisville doctors explain the ... (Courier Journal)

Johns Hopkins calls the condition a "language disorder" that can impact men and women equally.

Speech therapy can help those with loss of language, Kaelin said. This goes beyond just forgetting a name here or there, she said. Dr. Kerri Remmel, the Director of Stroke for U of L Health, said it's an "acquired disorder of the ability to understand or express language," though it can look different depending on the person and cause.

What is aphasia? An expert explains (PBS NewsHour)

Actor Bruce Willis is leaving his career in acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. Here's what you need to know about how it impairs communication and ...

But the road can be long, and it depends on the extent of damage to the brain. Unlike in cases of stroke, the onset will be very mild at first – people will slowly forget the names of people or of objects. Clinical trial of certain types of drugs are under way but in the early stages. It is usually people over the age of 65 simply because they have a higher risk of stroke. When people have aphasia after stroke or hemorrhage, the diagnosis is made by a neurologist. In the non-progressive form, consistent therapy will result in recovery of speech and understanding. There is also a separate form of the condition called primary progressive aphasia. But people at higher risk of stroke – so those with cardiovascular disabilities and diabetes – are more at risk. In the U.S., around 2 million people have aphasia and around 225,000 Americans are diagnosed every year. A loss of both speaking and comprehension of language would suggest damage to both the large temporal lobe and frontal lobe. Some people with aphasia only have difficulty understanding language – a result of damage to the temporal lobe, which governs how sound and language are processed in the brain. Almost everyone with aphasia struggles when trying to come up with the names of things they know, but can’t find the name for.

Bruce Willis' Aphasia: A Look at This Condition With an Uncertain ... (healthnewshub.org)

Traumatic brain injury. Brain tumor or infection. Degenerative conditions like dementia. Migraines, seizures or transient ischemic attack (TIA) can cause ...

“If the symptoms come on suddenly, it could be a sign of a stroke and the person should seek immediate medical attention.” Aphasia, according to Sylvia Fisher, speech-language pathology program manager with the Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network, is a language disorder that hinders a person’s ability to communicate, making it difficult to speak, write, read and understand what others are saying. Common symptoms include: Fully understanding Willis’ future depends on the cause. This damage can result from: It’s perhaps the worst medical condition for an actor.

Understanding aphasia, the disorder cited in Bruce Willis's retirement (The Washington Post)

What is aphasia? What are the symptoms of aphasia? Are there any preventive methods, treatments or cures? How can you effectively communicate with someone who ...

What to know about Aphasia (KMID - Local 2 News)

MIDLAND, Texas (Nexstar) – Bruce Willis and his family announced that the well-known actor has been diagnosed with aphasia and has stepped away from acting.