Explained: The brain condition forcing Bruce Willis to retire from acting

Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with language disorder, Aphasia. Here’s what you need to know about the condition.

The family of action hero Bruce Willis made the heartbreaking announcement that the much-loved actor had been diagnosed with neurological condition, Aphasia.

The Die Hard star will retire from acting as a result of the diagnosis, which affects a person’s ability to comprehend and communicate.

University of Queensland Emeritus Professor Linda Worrall, a spokesperson for the Australian Aphasia Association said the condition was the result of an injury to the language part of the brain.

“The primary symptom is the inability to recall words, you struggle to find the words you want to say,” Prof Worrall said.

Sufferers also experience difficulty understanding what other people are saying to them and it affects their ability to understand the written word as well.

“It is caused by either a stroke, a head injury, a brain tumour, or something called primary progressive aphasia a degenerative condition that in some people leads to a full blown sort of dementia,” Professor Worrall said.

Around 80,000 Australians live with the condition at any one time but many people can be treated using help from a speech pathologist, Professor Worrall said.

While the cause of Willis’ diagnosis is unclear, here’s what we do know about Aphasia.

WHAT IS APHASIA?

Aphasia is a neurological disorder, generally caused by damage to the parts of the brain responsible for language. For most people, that’s the left side.

According to the Brain Foundation, Aphasia isn’t a disease, but a symptom of brain damage.

While it impacts a person’s ability to communicate, it doesn’t affect intelligence.

Bruce Willis in Die Hard. Picture: Supplied

HOW DO YOU GET IT?

Aphasia usually occurs suddenly, often due to stroke or head injury. For others, it develops slowly, possibly the result of dementia, infection, aneurysm, or brain tumour. The cause of Bruce Willis’ Aphasia remains unclear.

HOW COMMON IS IT?

According to Aphasia Victoria, there are more than 120,000 Australians affected by aphasia, with around 10,000 diagnosed each year.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Both the types of symptoms and the severity of those symptoms depend on where the brain was affected, and the extent of the damage or injury.

Early signs include difficulty expressing oneself when speaking, trouble understanding speech, and struggling to read and write.

While Aphasia doesn’t affect intelligence, the symptoms often mask it. People with Aphasia often have to rely on gestures and facial expressions to communicate clear thoughts, which can be frustrating.

Aphasia can affect relationships and self-identity, says Aphasia Victoria, as those with the disorder adjust to changes, and deal with grief, loss of language, changing roles and possibly changing careers.

Willis and wife Emma Heming. Picture: Bryan R. Smith

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?

In most cases, speech and/or language therapy is the first port of call when it comes to treating Aphasia.

“The main aims of treatment is for people with aphasia to maintain their quality of life and to live well,” says Aphasia Victoria Senior Speech Patholigst Lauren Fletcher.

The goal may be to restore language abilities or to compensate for language problems by learning other methods of communicating.

IS THERE A CURE?

There is no known cure for Aphasia, and according to Aphasia Victoria, the outcome is difficult to predict given the wide range of variability of the condition.

“Depending on the cause, some types of aphasia will improve with time and speech therapy input, while other types of aphasia may worsen over time,” said Ms Fletcher.

It’s impossible to determine how long possible recovery will take, and the time can depend on the location and size of the injury, chosen therapies, and individual motivation.

Aphasia Victoria says the recovery process is usually quickest in the first six months, but can continue for many years.

“Many people with aphasia will have chronic, long-term difficulty with communication,” says Ms Fletcher.

The prognosis is better for younger people and those with less extensive brain damage or injury, and the location also makes a difference.

The Brain Foundation says there’s more chance of patients recovering language comprehension skills than skills involving expression.

Originally published as Explained: The brain condition forcing Bruce Willis to retire from acting