Bruce Willis will retire from acting after being diagnosed with the condition. Here’s what we know about it. 

Bruce Willis, the film star known for his roles in “Die Hard” and “Pulp Fiction,”  

will step away from his decades-long movie career in the wake of a recent aphasia diagnosis 

What is aphasia? 

Aphasia is a constellation of symptoms that make it difficult or impossible to express or comprehend language 

The disorder stems from damage to the parts of the brain that are responsible for language functions 

Aphasia can be devastating for patients, disrupting their ability to take part in everyday life. 

All cases of aphasia stem from neurological changes in the brain 

Strokes resulting in brain damage are the number-one cause, said Dr. Shazam Hussain, director of the Cerebrovascular Center at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. 

But it can also be caused by degenerative conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease 

While there is no cure, patients with aphasia can seek speech and occupational therapy.