Wendy Williams was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Williams took a leave of absence from her talk show in 2021 because she was dealing with health issues, and in 2023, after “a series of medical tests,” she was diagnosed with medical conditions that affect speech, communication behavior and function, a news release said.
Williams, 59, had spoken publicly about her Graves' disease and lymphedema diagnoses. She initially took an indefinite leave of absence from her long-running talk show “Wendy,” which premiered in 2008. In 2022, it was announced that Sherri Shepherd would be taking over the show as host.
“I would like to say that I am very grateful for the love and kind words I received after sharing my diagnosis of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Let me say: Wow! Their reaction was overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me.” “It reminds me of the power of unity and the need for compassion,” Williams said in a statement released Friday evening. “I still need personal space and peace to thrive. Please know that your positivity and encouragement are greatly appreciated.”
Archive photo by Wendy Williams Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Williams' care team shared the health update Thursday “to correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health.” She was occasionally observed to be unable to form words and behave erratically, including during the tapings of her talk show, which worried and confused many fans.
What is aphasia?
Aphasia causes patients to have difficulty understanding language and communicating. The condition received widespread attention when actor Bruce Willis announced his diagnosis in 2022. He later revealed that he was also diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
Aphasia is related to damage to the left hemisphere of the brain and is usually a symptom of other medical problems such as a stroke, head injury or tumor, or develops due to a degenerative brain disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia, also known as FTD, describes a group of brain disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain and are associated with personality, behavior, and language, explains the Mayo Clinic.
Some people with FTD show dramatic changes in their personality and may become “socially inappropriate, impulsive, or emotionally indifferent, while others lose the ability to use language properly,” says the Mayo Clinic.
“Often patients present only with behavioral problems, their personality can change,” explained Dr. Gayatri Devi, clinical professor of neurology at Northwell Health who specializes in dementia, on “CBS Mornings.” “But unlike something like Alzheimer's, there is no clear test to definitively make the diagnosis.”
In contrast to Alzheimer's disease, which generally only occurs at older ages, it is more likely to affect people in their 50s and 60s.
“All dementia has genetic causes, but genetics is not your fate,” Devi noted. “…Genetics is part of it, but there are a whole bunch of other things you can do to prevent dementia.”
FTD accounts for approximately 10 to 20% of dementia cases, with approximately 50,000 to 60,000 people diagnosed with FTD each year.
It could be that it is underdiagnosed, said Dr. David Agus told CBS News after Willis' diagnosis. It is a progressive disease that will get worse and may require a lot of care, he said.
Wendy Williams documentary and guardianship
Williams' team said the decision to make her diagnoses public was difficult, but they chose to “not only promote understanding and compassion for Wendy, but also to raise awareness of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.” and to support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances.”
They said Williams is still able to do many things for herself and “maintains her trademark sense of humor.” She is receiving the care she needs, they said.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Willams received a court-appointed conservatorship after Wells Fargo claimed she was “mentally unsound” in 2022. The bank claimed it was under “undue influence and financial exploitation,” but Williams has denied those claims.
Her son Kevin Hunter Jr. also expressed concerns about the guardianship. Her manager, Will Selby, denied the claims to ET, saying she wasn't being taken advantage of.
In the trailer for a two-part documentary about Williams' life, airing February 24 and 25 on Lifetime, Williams is seen discussing her finances. “I have no money,” she says desperately. Her family also appears to be expressing concerns about her guardianship.
“I love being famous. But family is everything. Everything,” Williams says in the trailer.
–Sara Moniuszko contributed to this report.
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