Health - Wellness
Bruce Willis' Aphasia Diagnosis Explained
By ROBIN ROTHSTEIN
In 2022, Bruce Willis and his family spoke out about the actor being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects the brain and impacts one's ability to communicate. While this disease typically occurs after a stroke or head injury, it can also arise from slow-forming brain tumors or another factor that causes degeneration.
The most severe type of aphasia is Global aphasia, and those affected often cannot read, write, or speak recognizable words. Patients diagnosed with Anomic aphasia have difficulty supplying specific nouns and verbs, while patients with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) lose language and speech capabilities due to deterioration of related brain tissue.
Aphasia is typically diagnosed through an MRI or CT scan, combined with a language skills test. Treatment may involve working with a speech pathologist to improve communication, and each diagnosis is different; while there are no surefire methods to prevent the disease, supporting brain health and reducing the risk of brain injury are always important.