Wendy Williams has revealed she is dealing with a rare form of dementia and a disorder that affects communication.
Williams, 59, was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023 after undergoing “a battery of medical tests,” according to a report. Press release made on behalf of the former talk show host, in an effort to correct “inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health.”
“In recent years, questions have sometimes been raised about Wendy’s ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy’s condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act out of control. erratically from time to time and have difficulty understanding financial transactions,” the report said. » reads the statement.
FTD is a generic term for a group of disorders which most often affects parts of the brain associated with personality and behavior, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. It can also cause speech and movement difficulties, as well as memory loss.
Aphasia is calledlanguage problems” by the Canadian Aphasia Institute, which states that “it most dramatically affects conversational interaction (speaking and understanding), as well as the ability to read and write.”
Bruce Willis is another high-profile celebrity who has been diagnosed with FTD and aphasia. Willis announced he was stopping acting in 2022, and a year later his family said the actor’s condition had worsened and he was also suffering from FTD.
The update on Williams’ health comes two years after the cancellation of her hit talk show. The Wendy Williams Show, which lasted 14 years. At the time, Williams was open about being diagnosed Graves’ diseasean autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid and can cause bulging eyes, excessive sweating and muscle weakness, according to the Canadian Thyroid Foundation.
The statement on Williams’ behalf acknowledges that her health issues “have already presented significant obstacles in Wendy’s life.”
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“The decision to share this news was a difficult one and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but also to raise awareness of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of “other people facing similar circumstances,” it reads.
“Unfortunately, many people with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, particularly when they begin to exhibit behavioral changes but have not yet received a diagnosis. »
About five to 10 percent of all cases of dementia are FTD, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, but this represents about 20 percent of all early-onset dementias diagnosed in those under 65. There is also no known cure or effectiveness. way to slow the progression of FTD.
Cathy Barrick, executive director of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, told Global News last year that FTD “primarily attacks the frontal temporal lobe…which governs your behavior and judgment.”
“So sometimes the symptoms associated with it can be quite disturbing both for the person living with it and for those around them.”
Barrick said it’s important for people to be aware of FTD and better understand those who have it.
“People who are in the early stages can actually still be very productive members of society… We don’t want them to be forced to step down when they start showing symptoms and having difficulty,” he said. Barrick said.
“Maybe if employers and family members just understood people’s limitations and that they might have some days better than others, people could still participate and really actively contribute.” So it’s really, really important to overcome that stigma.
Williams is “still able to do a lot of things on her own,” according to the update. “Most importantly, she maintains her sense of humor and receives the care she needs to ensure she is protected and her needs are met.”
A new Lifetime documentary called Where is Wendy Williams? is due to air on Saturday.
According to Peoplethe team began filming in August 2022 and was ready to document Williams’ return and she prepared to launch a new podcast.
But things changed as Williams’ serious health problems became more evident.
“We’ve all seen the images over the last few months — and, really, a few years — of what seemed like a spiral for my aunt,” Williams’ niece, Alex Finnie, told People. “It was shocking and heartbreaking to see her in this state.”
The documentary team stopped filming in April 2023, with the former host admitted to a facility to treat “cognitive issues.”
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