Renowned daytime talk show host, Wendy Williams has been confronting significant health challenges. According to her health care team, she was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), last year.
Addressing widespread misconceptions, her team disclosed this news to counteract inaccurate rumours and foster understanding regarding her health status. The 59-year-old TV personality helmed the nationally syndicated show for over a decade until its conclusion in 2022 due to her ongoing health struggles.
Recent reports surfaced following a cover story, disclosing that she is presently under care at a facility, grappling with alarming health developments. In a statement issued on Thursday, her care team emphasized her previous openness about medical challenges, including Graves' Disease and Lymphedema, alongside acknowledging the recent onset of aphasia and FTD.
Confirming her diagnosis through comprehensive medical evaluations last year, her care team delineated the nature of these conditions. Aphasia, a neurological syndrome, disrupts communication abilities, potentially impairing speech and language comprehension. FTD, an incurable brain disorder, affects language functions and progressively worsens over time, with management options available but no curative treatment.
Launching her career in radio, Wendy captivated audiences with her irreverent style before transitioning to television, where her eponymous show garnered widespread acclaim. Over the years, concerns regarding her health surfaced, notably highlighted by a fainting incident during a 2017 Halloween episode and subsequent medical leaves.
Her health challenges prompted the show's cancellation, coupled with legal proceedings leading to a financial guardianship. Amid ongoing public interest, the Lifetime network is set to air a documentary titled "Where is Wendy Williams?" aiming to shed light on her current situation.
In sharing her challenges, her care team advocates for compassion and awareness surrounding these conditions, given the potential for misdiagnosis and societal stigma.
More about the chronic condition
Aphasia, classified as a neurological syndrome, hampers communication abilities, often resulting in difficulty articulating thoughts and potential loss of speech or writing faculties.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an irreversible brain disorder stemming from left-brain damage, impacting language and communication skills. While symptoms exacerbate over time, management strategies exist, although the National Institutes of Health (NIH) underscore the absence of treatments capable of impeding or halting its progression.
This rare ailment typically affects individuals at a relatively young age compared to other dementia variants, typically striking those aged between 45 and 64 years old.
These are some of the reactions on Twitter:
That Wendy Williams news makes me so sad. She brought me a lot of laughter during a really hard time. I’m grateful that we have this compilation of her talking about “the killer.” One of my favorite things she did 🤣 pic.twitter.com/lK51AMhZiA
— Lee (@caseyleemoore) February 22, 2024
This #WendyWilliams dementia and aphasia diagnosis has me in shambles 😭![CDATA[]]>😫 as a brain health professional, I understand all to well what she is going through, what her family is going through… cognitive decline related illnesses are unfair to us women.
— Candy Calderon | Wellness Expert (@candycalderon_) February 23, 2024
This #WendyWilliams dementia and aphasia diagnosis has me in shambles 😭![CDATA[]]>😫 as a brain health professional, I understand all to well what she is going through, what her family is going through… cognitive decline related illnesses are unfair to us women.
— Candy Calderon | Wellness Expert (@candycalderon_) February 23, 2024
Not gone lie, seeing aunt #WENDY like this hurts… You can have all the problems in the world, but once your health starts to decline; that’s your only problem. Sending so much love and prayers to #WendyWilliams and the family 🙏![CDATA[]]>🏾❤️🌹 pic.twitter.com/qrtSayxv7G
— iamshaudi (@iamshaudi) February 23, 2024
#WendyWilliams
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