[ad_1]
Former talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, her team said in a statement Thursday.
She was diagnosed last year after undergoing several medical tests. Her team said the conditions have “presented significant obstacles in Wendy’s life.”
“Wendy would not have received confirmation of these diagnoses if it were not for the diligence of her current care team, whom she chose, and the extraordinary work of the specialists at Weill Cornell Medicine. Receiving a diagnosis has allowed Wendy to receive the care he needs. requires,” Williams’ team said in a news release.
Primary progressive aphasia is a nervous system syndrome that affects a person’s ability to communicate, according to Mayo Clinic. People who suffer from it often have trouble expressing their thoughts and may lose the ability to speak and write. Symptoms usually begin before age 65.
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, refers to a group of diseases that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, the Mayo Clinic said. It is usually associated with behavioral and personality changes and difficulty with language.
Actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, which progressed to frontotemporal dementia.
Williams, 59, previously opened up about her battles with lymphedema and Graves’ disease. 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 would be taking a three-week break following her Graves’ disease diagnosis.
In 2022, amid continued health battles, it was announced that the program was ending.
His team said the decision to share his latest health issues was “difficult and made after careful consideration.” They said she can still “do a lot of things for herself” and that she is receiving treatment.
“Most importantly, she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she needs to ensure she is protected and her needs are met,” the statement states. “She appreciates the many kind thoughts and well wishes sent her way.”
The news comes days before the Lifetime premiere of “Where’s Wendy Williams?”, a two-part documentary about her physical and mental health. It airs February 24 and 25 on Lifetime.