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Wendy Williams, the former daytime talk show host, has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, a disorder that makes it difficult or impossible for a person to express or understand language, according to a statement from her representatives.
Williams, 59, who hosted “The Wendy Williams Show” on Fox for more than a decade, was officially diagnosed last year after “undergoing a series of medical tests,” according to a statement released Thursday.
Tests show that Ms. Williams has primary progressive aphasia, a type of frontotemporal dementia, her representatives said, adding that she was receiving necessary medical care.
“In recent years, questions have sometimes been raised about Wendy’s ability to process information.” the statement said“and many have speculated about Wendy’s condition, particularly when she began to lose her words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions.”
The statement was released before the premiere this Saturday of “Where is Wendy Williams?” a two-part Lifetime Network documentary about Ms. Williams.
The project stopped filming in April, when, according to the documentary, Ms. Williams entered a care facility where she has been since. people magazine reported on Wednesday. Ms. Williams’ son, Kevin Hunter Jr., says in the documentary that doctors have linked his cognitive problems to alcohol use, People reported. Ms. Williams’ family told People that a court-appointed legal guardian was the only person who had “unrestricted” access to her.
Ms. Williams’ sister, Wanda Finnie, told People that her family did not know which facility Ms. Williams was in. They can’t call her themselves, she said, but Ms. Williams can call them.
In May 2020, Ms. Williams went on hiatus from her talk show due to fatigue caused by the autoimmune disorder, Graves’ disease, the show. said in a statement At the time. She hosted the next season’s premiere on September 2020but health problems prevented him from returning the next season, and the show used guest hosts before being cancelled. in 2022.
Her representatives said they were providing an update on Ms. Williams’ health “not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but also to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of people who face similar circumstances.
Frontotemporal dementia is the most common type of dementia in people under 60 years of age. The family of actor Bruce Willis announced that he had frontotemporal dementia in February 2023.
Primary progressive aphasia is a type of frontotemporal dementia that affects people’s ability to speak and communicate.
“It doesn’t actually look like dementia in the way people usually think of that word,” said Dr. Sami Barmada, a neurologist at Michigan Medicine. With primary progressive aphasia, people may have difficulty finding the right words.
“They could be talking and all of a sudden they pause; you can see them trying to pronounce the words,” Dr. Barmada said.
Patients can also substitute words when they can’t find them, saying something like “thingy” instead of “remote control.” In some cases, patients may also have difficulty following conversations, especially in groups, and understanding what people around them are saying. The condition progresses slowly over time and there are few treatment options.
The statement from Ms Williams’ representatives said she “could still do a lot of things for herself”.
“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 said. “She appreciates the many kind thoughts and well wishes sent her way.”