Wendy Williams: Former US Talk Show Host Diagnosed with Aphasia and Dementia.
Renowned US daytime talk show host, Wendy Williams Hunter, is facing a challenging health battle as her care team reveals that she was diagnosed last year with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The care team aims to dispel incorrect and hurtful rumors surrounding her health.
Wendy Williams, 59, had been the host of the popular nationally syndicated “Wendy Williams Show” for over a decade, but her career came to an end in 2022 due to health challenges. The news of her diagnosis comes in the wake of a People Magazine cover story reporting that she is in a care facility, grappling with a health crisis.
As Wendy fans know, in the past, she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves’ Disease and Lymphedema, as well as other significant challenges related to her health,” her care team stated on Thursday. They further explained that questions had arisen in recent years about Wendy’s ability to process information, leading to speculation about her condition, particularly when she began experiencing difficulties with words, acting unpredictably, and facing challenges in understanding financial transactions.
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The care team emphasized that Ms. Williams’ diagnosis was confirmed through several medical tests last year. Aphasia, a nervous system syndrome affecting communication ability, often causes patients to struggle with expressing thoughts and may result in a loss of the ability to speak or write.
FTD, an incurable brain disorder caused by damage to the left side of the brain impacting language and communication abilities, worsens over time. While symptoms can be managed, there is no treatment to slow or prevent its progression, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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The rare disease typically strikes individuals at a younger age than other forms of dementia, with most diagnoses occurring between the ages of 45 and 64. Wendy Williams’ journey mirrors that of Hollywood icon Bruce Willis, diagnosed with aphasia and FTD last year.
In their statement, Wendy Williams’ care team acknowledged that FTD had already presented significant hurdles but highlighted that she still retained a sense of humor and was capable of many things. At 60 years old, Wendy Williams, who began her career in radio, made a name for herself as the host of “The Wendy Williams Show” from 2008 to 2021.
Concerns about Wendy Williams’ health have been circulating for years, with incidents like fainting during a Halloween episode in 2017 and medical leaves to address Graves’ disease in 2021. Producers eventually canceled the show, and financial guardianship was established later that year. The Lifetime network is set to release a two-part documentary titled “Where is Wendy Williams?” this weekend.
Williams’ care team decided to make her condition public to advocate for compassion and raise awareness for others facing similar challenges.
Frontotemporal dementia is not always recognized by physicians, leading to misdiagnoses or a lack of diagnosis, according to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.
