Wendy Williams has been recognized with major progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), her medical care staff introduced Thursday. Right here, Williams attends the world premiere of Apple TV+’s The Morning Present in New York on Oct. 28, 2019.
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Wendy Williams has been recognized with major progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), her medical care staff introduced Thursday. Right here, Williams attends the world premiere of Apple TV+’s The Morning Present in New York on Oct. 28, 2019.
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Wendy Williams, the previous TV speak present host and shock jock, has been recognized with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, her medical staff introduced.
In a information launch Thursday, her staff mentioned Williams, 59, obtained her analysis final 12 months and that the situations have already “introduced important hurdles in Wendy’s life.”
“Wendy continues to be in a position to do many issues for herself,” her staff mentioned, noting that she is appreciative of the type ideas and desires being despatched to her. “Most significantly she maintains her trademark humorousness and is receiving the care she requires to ensure she is protected and that her wants are addressed.”
Information of her newest medical analysis comes days forward of the Lifetime premiere of The place is Wendy Williams? — a two-part documentary detailing her well being battles following the top of her syndicated speak present in 2022.
Williams, the previous TV host of The Wendy Williams Present, stepped away from the world of broadcasting following a sequence of well being points. (Williams additionally has Graves’ illness, an autoimmune dysfunction affecting the thyroid.)
In 2022, attributable to her ongoing well being battles, it was introduced that her syndicated daytime speak present would finish after a 13-year run on TV.
Williams’ staff says they shared the well being replace this week to “right inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her well being,” as many followers have been involved, but confused over the previous few years about her bodily well being and monetary well-being.
In 2022, the 59-year-old was positioned underneath momentary monetary guardianship after her financial institution, Wells Fargo, raised considerations — claiming in a New York courtroom that she is an “incapacitated particular person,” The Hollywood Reporter reported.
What precisely is aphasia?
Aphasia is outlined as a situation that impacts the flexibility to talk, write and perceive language, based on the Mayo Clinic. The language dysfunction can happen after strokes or head accidents — and might even lead, in some circumstances, to dementia.
Medical consultants say the impacts of the dysfunction can fluctuate, relying on the particular person’s analysis. However primarily, the situation impacts an individual’s means to speak — whether or not written, spoken or each.
Almost 180,000 folks within the U.S. purchase the situation every year. Most individuals residing with aphasia are middle-aged or older, as the common age of these residing with the situation is 70 years outdated. Nevertheless, anybody, together with younger kids, can purchase it.
Dr. Jonathon Lebovitz, a neurosurgeon specializing within the surgical therapy of mind and backbone situations at Nuvance Well being, informed NPR in 2022 following the analysis of actor Bruce Willis, that an individual’s situation depends upon the precise portion of the mind that is impacted.
“In most sufferers which have aphasia, it’s a symptom of a bigger medical challenge,” Lebovitz mentioned.
What’s frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia, generally referred to as FTD, is one among a number of varieties of dementia that trigger nerve harm within the frontal and temporal lobes — which ends up in a lack of operate in these areas, based on the Alzheimer’s Affiliation.
FTD also can disrupt motor operate and motion, which might be labeled as Lou Gehrig’s illness — in any other case referred to as ALS.
There are two several types of frontotemporal dementia: Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, which causes nerve loss within the areas of the mind that management empathy, judgment and conduct, and first progressive aphasia (PPA) — the shape Williams has, which impacts language expertise, talking, writing and comprehension.
About 30% of individuals with frontotemporal degeneration inherit the illness. The underlying causes of FTD are unknown.
What are the therapy choices for aphasia and FTD?
For many who are recognized with aphasia, there are a number of therapy choices accessible.
Historically, most individuals endure a type of speech and language remedy to revive their communicative expertise. Moreover, there are ongoing medical trials that use mind stimulation and should assist enhance one’s means to regain expertise.
Up to now, no long-term analysis on aphasia has been performed but.
On the subject of FTD, there are medicines that may assist relieve signs however with time, the illness finally will get worse.
