--- title: "Bruce Willis Is Halting His Movie Career Due to Aphasia. Here’s What That Means" description: "Die Hard actor Bruce Willis been diagnosed with aphasia, a cognitive condition that's affecting his ability to speak and work." date: "2022-03-30" modified: "2022-03-30" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/bruce-willis-aphasia" categories: - "Developments" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "aphasia" - "health" - "language" - "neurological disorders" --- # Bruce Willis Is Halting His Movie Career Due to Aphasia. Here’s What That Means ![Die Hard actor Bruce Willis been diagnosed with aphasia, a cognitive condition that's affecting his ability to speak and work.]() *SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 04: American actor Bruce Willis attends CocoBaba and Ushopal activity on November 4, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) \Image: Getty Images\* **"**Die Hard**"** actor Bruce Willis been diagnosed with a cognitive disorder that's affecting his ability to speak and work — and it's likely more common than you'd expect. In [a sad Instagram post](), the actor's daughter Rumer Willis wrote that her father has been diagnosed with aphasia, a neurological condition in which people have difficulty with language and particularly with remembering words. As a result of the diagnosis, the 67-year-old actor is, per his daughter's post, "stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him." The [Mayo Clinic describes aphasia]() as "a condition that robs you of the ability to communicate" which can affect one's "ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written." According to [the National Institutes of Health](), people most often develop aphasia suddenly after a stroke or head injury, though neither has been reported in Willis' case. It can also be caused by a brain tumor or a degenerative condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although most aphasia sufferers are middleaged, it's a common disorder that can affect anyone including small children, the NIH notes. The [National Aphasia Association estimates]() that there are at least two million people in the US with aphasia, and roughly 180,000 more [are diagnosed with it every year](). While cognitive exercises are the most often prescribed treatments for aphasia patients, which can include everything from joining book clubs to speech therapy, advances in non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technology are carving new avenues of research and experimental treatment for people who develop aphasia, particularly after having strokes. Trials are [currently underway to study NIBS' effectiveness]() for a host of disorders including aphasia, and with any luck, they will be able to help people who suffer from this disorder that's affected one of America's most beloved actors. "As Bruce always says, 'Live it up,'" the actor's daughter wrote, "and together we plan to do just that." **More on aphasia research:** [New research seeks breakthroughs in aphasia recovery]() \[University of Queensland Australia\] ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()