01/04/2022
As a therapist hearing the news yesterday of Bruce’s condition I couldn’t help think of PPA as explained here. I’ve only ever come across this once before. Tactus therapy apps were always one of my top recommendations for patients with impaired language skills.
Sadly, beloved actor Bruce Willis will no longer be making movies because of a condition called aphasia, as announced by his family today on Instagram.
Aphasia is a loss of language, usually after a brain injury or stroke. However, since there has been no news about any acute medical event, it's quite likely that the star has been diagnosed with a different type of aphasia called Primary Progressive Aphasia, or PPA.
PPA is a form of frontotemporal dementia, a progressive condition that starts by impacting language before it affects other cognitive processes, like memory.
Demi Moore's disclosure of Bruce's impaired cognitive abilities may seem incongruent with a diagnosis of aphasia. We know that aphasia is not a loss of intellect, only language. However, language is a cognitive process, and she may mean it in this way. We also know that many people with aphasia ALSO have cognitive impairments, as the brain is delicate and complex, and many injuries impair multiple functions.
There will likely be updates as more information is known, so at this point anything further than what is stated is speculation.
However, it is wonderful to see more people learning about and talking about aphasia. This condition affects millions of people, yet few people know the word or how to help.
Other celebrities have experienced aphasia, including country artist Randy Travis, TV presenter Dick Clark, actresses Sharon Stone, Emilia Clarke, and Aubrey Plaza, and US Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Some have recovered fully, while others still battle to get their words out.
To learn more about the different types of aphasia, including PPA, please head to our site: https://tactustherapy.com/aphasia/
Our best wishes go out to Mr. Willis and his family! 💕
