Wendy Williams, the former talk show host and media personality, has recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with two rare and progressive brain disorders: primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Her care team announced the news on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in a press release that also stated the intention to raise awareness and compassion for Williams and thousands of others facing similar circumstances.
What are aphasia and frontotemporal dementia?
Aphasia is a condition that affects a person’s ability to communicate, especially with language. People who have aphasia may have trouble expressing their thoughts, speaking, writing, reading, or understanding what others say. Aphasia is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that process language, usually the left side of the brain. Aphasia can result from various causes, such as stroke, head injury, brain tumor, infection, or degenerative diseases.
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is a group of diseases that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are responsible for behavior, personality, and language. FTD is the most common form of dementia for people under the age of 60, and there is currently no known cure. FTD can cause various symptoms, depending on which parts of the brain are affected. Some of the symptoms include:
- Changes in personality, behavior, and judgment, such as becoming more impulsive, aggressive, or socially inappropriate.
- Primary progressive aphasia, which involves difficulty with language, such as finding the right words, naming objects, or following conversations.
- Movement disorders, such as problems with balance, walking, coordination, or muscle stiffness.
FTD is progressive, meaning that the symptoms get worse over time as more parts of the brain are damaged. It is difficult to predict how long someone with FTD will live, as the disease course can vary from person to person.
How did Wendy Williams get diagnosed?
Wendy Williams, 59, was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia last year, after undergoing several medical tests. Her care team said that the conditions have presented significant hurdles in her life, and that she would not have received confirmation of the diagnoses were it not for the diligence of her current care team and the specialists at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Wendy Williams has previously opened up about her battles with other health issues, such as lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling in the limbs, and Graves’ disease, a thyroid disorder. In 2017, she fainted in the middle of a Halloween episode of “The Wendy Williams Show”, but recovered and finished the episode. A year later, she announced that she was taking a three-week break following her Graves’ disease diagnosis. In 2022, amid ongoing health struggles, it was announced that her show was ending after 13 seasons.
How is Wendy Williams coping with her conditions?
According to her care team, Williams is still able to do many things for herself and is receiving the medical care she requires. She also maintains her trademark sense of humor and is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way. Her team said that the decision to share her health news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Williams, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances.
Williams is not the only celebrity who has been diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, which progressed to frontotemporal dementia. He has been open about his challenges and has received support from his family and fans.
Williams’ fans can learn more about her physical and mental health in her upcoming Lifetime documentary “Where is Wendy Williams?”, which premieres on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 on Lifetime. The documentary promises to give an intimate and honest look at Williams’ life and career, as well as her health journey.
Leave a Reply