By Micheal Chukwuebuka, Reporting
WENDY Williams, former talk show host, has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
In a statement Thursday, her team said she was diagnosed last year after undergoing several medical tests, adding that the conditions have presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.
“Wendy would not have received confirmation of these diagnoses were it not for the diligence of her current care team, who she chose, and the extraordinary work of the specialists at Weill Cornell Medicine.
“Receiving a diagnosis has enabled Wendy to receive the medical care she requires,” Williams’ team said in a news release.
Stonix News reports that primary progressive aphasia is a nervous system syndrome that affects a person’s ability to communicate.
According to Mayo Clinic, people who have it often have trouble expressing their thoughts and can lose their ability to speak and write. Symptoms typically begin before the age of 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.
Williams, 59, has previously opened up about her battles with Lymphedema and Graves’ disease.
According to NBC News, 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 was taking a three-week break following her Graves’ disease diagnosis.
In 2022, amid ongoing health battles, it was announced that the show was ending.
Her team said the decision to share her latest health issues was difficult and made after careful consideration.
They said she is still able to do many things for herself and is receiving treatment.
“Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed.
“She is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way,” the release stated.
The news comes days ahead of the Lifetime premiere of “Where is Wendy Williams?,” a two-part documentary about her physical and mental health. It airs on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 on Lifetime.
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