(30 Mar 2022) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4373527
 
A brain disorder has sidelined actor Bruce Willis and drawn attention to a little-known condition that has many possible causes.
For an actor, aphasia could pose a huge challenge depending on how severe it is, said Johns Hopkins University cognitive scientist Brenda Rapp, who works with people with the condition.
Willis’ family announced Wednesday that the 67-year-old actor has been diagnosed with aphasia but did not provide any details on a possible cause.
Rapp said a stroke is the most common cause. A tumor, head injury or other damage to the language centers of the brain can lead to the disorder as well.
Brain infections or Alzheimer’s disease can also trigger it. The condition leads to problems with speaking, reading and writing.
The National Aphasia Association estimates 2 million Americans are affected.
For most, the cause is a stroke that has cut off blood to part of the brain.
Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells die, which leads to the difficulty retrieving words.

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