Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia
In 2021, Williams temporarily stepped away from her talk show due to health concerns. In 2023, she received a diagnosis for conditions that impact language, communication behavior, and function after undergoing a series of medical tests, according to a press release.
Williams, 59, had been open to the public about her Graves’ Disease and lymphedema diagnoses. She initially took an indefinite leave from her long-running talk show, “Wendy,” which premiered in 2008. In 2022 it was announced that Sherri Shepherd would talk over the show as host.
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The care team for Wendy provided an update on her health on Thursday in order to address false and harmful rumors. There have been instances where she appeared to struggle with speaking and behaved unpredictably, particularly during filming of her talk show. This caused worry and bewilderment among her supporters.
In 2022, Bruce Willis made public his medical condition. Subsequently, he also disclosed that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
Mayo Clinic states that aphasia is typically caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the brain and is often a manifestation of other health conditions such as stroke, head trauma, or a degenerative brain disease.
Can you explain what frontotemporal dementia is?
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is a collection of brain disorders that impact the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which control personality, behavior, and language, according to the Mayo Clinic.
According to the Mayo Clinic, individuals with FTD may experience significant alterations in their behavior, such as becoming socially inappropriate, impulsive, or emotionally detached. Others may struggle with language impairment.
According to Dr. Gayatri Devi, a neurology professor at Northwell Health who focuses on dementia, patients may exhibit behavioral issues and undergo a shift in their personality. However, unlike Alzheimer’s disease, there is no definitive test to determine the diagnosis.
It typically impacts individuals in their fifties and sixties, rather than Alzheimer’s, which typically arises in later years.
Devi stated that while genetics do play a role in dementia, it is not the determining factor. There are other factors to consider and actions you can take to prevent or manage it.prevent dementia.”
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) makes up approximately 10% to 20% of all dementia cases, and around 50,000 to 60,000 individuals are diagnosed with FTD annually.
According to Dr. David Agus, speaking to CBS News following Willis’ diagnosis, this condition may not be properly identified. He stated that it is a degenerative illness that will deteriorate and may necessitate extensive treatment.
Reworded: The documentary about Wendy Williams and the topic of guardianship.
The team of Williams announced that it was a tough choice to reveal her diagnoses, but they ultimately chose to do so in order to promote understanding and empathy for Wendy, as well as to bring attention to aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and provide support for those who are also dealing with similar situations.
According to sources, Williams remains capable of completing various tasks independently and has not lost her characteristic sense of humor. She is currently receiving necessary care.
In 2022, Entertainment Tonight reported that Willams was granted a court-appointed guardianship due to Wells Fargo’s accusations of her being mentally unstable. The bank claimed she was being manipulated and financially taken advantage of, but Willams has refuted these allegations.
Kevin Hunter Jr., the son of the woman in question, has expressed worries regarding the guardianship. Will Selby, who manages her, denied these accusations in an interview with ET and stated that she is not being exploited.
The preview of a documentary about the life of Williams will air on Lifetime on Feb 24 and 25. In the footage, Williams discusses her financial struggles, stating “I am without funds” in a distressed manner. Additionally, her family expresses worries about her guardianship.
Williams expresses her love for fame, but acknowledges that family holds the utmost importance in her life, repeating it twice in the trailer.
Sara Moniuszko was a contributor to this report.
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Source: cbsnews.com