On Wednesday, Bruce Willis’s family revealed that Bruce is retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a rare cognitive disease that destroys the ability to speak and understand language.
Demi Moore updated fans about the sad news on Instagram. “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,” she wrote. “This is a 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 message is signed by Moore, along with their kids, Demi, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah, Willis’ current wife, Emma Heming Willis, and their two children together, Mabel and Evelyn. See the post below.
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What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a condition that leaves an individual unable to communicate, as it can impact the ability to “speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
How is aphasia treated?
Individuals who have experienced brain injuries that resulted in the disorder may see improvements within the first few months, even without treatment, the NIH notes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, once the cause of the disorder has been addressed, the main treatment for aphasia consists of speech and language therapy, which entails relearning and practicing language skills and other ways to communicate.