(Wendy Williams in happier times, Image credit: Instagram)
When the ever-popular talk show host, Wendy Williams, was unceremoniously removed and replaced from her renowned talk show, “The Wendy Williams Show,” we all knew something had gone awry. The network suits claimed at the time it because Wendy was experiencing some health issues, while Wendy herself kept claiming she was fine. But now we’ve learned that Wendy was recently diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The news concerning Wendy’s very serious illnesses was delivered by her care team who said they were sharing the news to raise awareness about these conditions and to offer compassion and understanding for Wendy and others facing similar circumstances, according to The Wrap.
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA), is a condition that slowly damages the parts of the brain that control speech and language. People with PPA usually have difficulty speaking, naming objects or understanding conversations.
PPA is a type of language disorder resulting from damage to specific parts of the brain responsible for language processing, typically affecting the left hemisphere.
Individuals with PPA experience difficulties in communication, including speaking, understanding language, and finding the right words.
Wendy Williams’ diagnosis of PPA likely impacts her ability to express herself verbally and comprehend spoken language.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a common cause of dementia, is a group of disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost. This causes the lobes to shrink. FTD can affect behavior, personality, language, and movement. FTD is characterized by the degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain.
It primarily affects behavior, personality, and decision-making abilities.Symptoms can include changes in personality, behavior, judgment, and problems with memory and reasoning.Movement disorders or issues with balance and walking may also occur.
FTD is progressive, meaning symptoms worsen over time, and there is currently no known cure, according to ABC News.
One of the many things her fans love about Williams is her candor, and she had previously shared her health struggles and her experience with living with Graves’ disease. Now, she is facing even more serious challenges posed by PPA and FTD.
Williams said in 2018 that she had been diagnosed years before with Graves’ disease, which leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormones and can cause wide-ranging symptoms that can affect overall health. Thursday’s statement from Williams’ care team said Williams’ dementia diagnosis happened in 2023. ~ ABC-7 New York
Willams’ care team and loved ones includes her son Kevin Hunter Jr., who after his mother’s diagnosis became public, was also candid when discussing her dementia diagnosis. Hunter went on record as saying that the doctors told him they believe her dementia is directly related to her struggles with alcohol addiction.
As he explained on the Feb. 25 installment of the Lifetime documentary“Where is Wendy Williams?”, the 59-year-old’s medical team “basically said that because she was drinking so much, it was starting to affect her headspace and her brain.”
Kevin added, “So, I think they said it was alcohol-induced dementia.” ~ E News
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"Of course, if we had known that Wendy had dementia going into it, no one would’ve rolled a camera," said producer Mark Ford of the new documentary, 'Where Is Wendy Williams?'
