Former talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with the same form of dementia that actor Bruce Willis has, a statement released Thursday on behalf of her caretakers says. The statement said the 59-year-old’s diagnoses of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia “have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life” and have behavioral and cognitive impacts.
Quick Read
- Wendy Williams, the former talk show host, has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, the same conditions affecting actor Bruce Willis.
- The diagnosis has significantly impacted Williams’ life, affecting her behavior and cognitive abilities, though she retains her sense of humor and independence in many daily activities.
- A statement from her care team highlighted the care and protection she’s receiving to address her needs and thanked the public for their support and well wishes.
- Williams’ family expressed concerns about her well-being and access to her in a People magazine article, revealing that only a court-appointed legal guardian has unrestricted access to her.
- The Lifetime documentary crew halted filming in April 2023 due to Williams’ cognitive issues, which her son linked to alcohol use in the documentary.
- Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) is a group of brain disorders leading to behavior, language, and movement issues, with aphasia being a symptom related to language difficulties.
- There are currently no treatments to halt the progression of FTD, which typically affects individuals in their 40s to early 60s and can lead to a decline in functioning and life expectancy of seven to 13 years after symptoms begin.
- Williams received care from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, which has declined to comment on her case.
- Known for her candidness, Williams has openly discussed her personal challenges, including health issues and addiction, throughout her career.
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a rare condition that affects the brain regions responsible for behavior and language, leading to their shrinkage over time.
- FTD typically manifests in individuals in their 40s to early 60s, altering personality traits and possibly resulting in loss of inhibition or inappropriate actions. It is often misdiagnosed as depression or bipolar disorder due to its complex symptoms.
- The disease process can be challenging for both the affected individuals and their families, as it may lead to socially awkward behaviors that are difficult to understand.
- Primary progressive aphasia is a common aspect of FTD, impacting language abilities, such as word retrieval and speech comprehension.
- The exact cause of FTD is not well understood, but it involves damage to neurons. A genetic predisposition may exist, although most cases have no familial dementia history.
- While there is no cure for FTD, management strategies include speech therapy for language difficulties and physical therapy for movement issues, along with medications like antidepressants or Parkinson’s drugs for certain symptoms.
- The progression of FTD varies widely, lasting between two to ten years, with the disease eventually spreading throughout the brain. This variability makes it difficult to predict the rate of decline.
- As FTD advances, caregiving needs intensify, imposing a significant financial burden on families, with average out-of-pocket expenses for care reaching about $10,000 annually.
The Associated Press has the story:
Wendy Williams diagnosed with same dementia form as Bruce Willis
Newslooks- LOS ANGELES (AP) —
Former talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with the same form of dementia that actor Bruce Willis has, a statement released Thursday on behalf of her caretakers says.
The statement said the 59-year-old’s diagnoses of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia “have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life” and have behavioral and cognitive impacts.
“Wendy is still able to do many things for herself. 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 statement attributed to her care team said.
The statement on Williams’ health was issued on PR Newswire. A representative listed on the release, Jennifer Hanley, referred questions back to the statement when contacted by The Associated Press.
The announcement came a day after a cover story in People magazine quoted Williams’ family about the nature of her struggles, ahead of a Lifetime documentary set to air Saturday.
“The people who love her cannot see her,” People quoted Williams’ sister Wanda as saying. “I think the big (question) is: How the hell did we get here?” The family said a court-appointed legal guardian was the only person with unfettered access to Williams.
The article said the Lifetime documentary crew, which set out in 2022 to chronicle Williams’ comeback, stopped filming in April 2023 when, her manager “and jeweler” Will Selby says in footage for the film, she entered a facility to treat “cognitive issues.” Her son says in the documentary that doctors had connected her cognitive issues to alcohol use, People reported.
Her family told People they don’t know where she is and cannot call her themselves, but she can call them.
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration describes FTD as a group of brain disorders caused by degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain that affects behavior, language and movement. Aphasia, a brain disorder that can lead to problems speaking or understanding words, can be a symptom of it. The association describes frontotemporal degeneration as “an inevitable decline in functioning,” with an average life expectancy of seven to 13 years after the onset of symptoms.
The association was involved in the disclosure of Willis’ diagnosis in February 2023, hosting a statement posted by the actor’s family.
There are no treatments to slow or stop the disease, but some interventions can help manage symptoms.
FTD usually occurs in people in their 40s, 50s and early 60s. It can affect a person’s personality, causing a loss of inhibition or inappropriate behavior. It is sometimes mistaken for depression or bipolar disorder, and can take years to diagnose.
Thursday’s statement credited Weill Cornell Medicine in New York with the care and expertise Williams received. Weill Cornell declined comment.
Williams rose to fame in part due to her no-boundaries approach to her life, which included sharing personal details about her health, plastic surgery and cocaine addiction — the subject of her 2003 memoir, “Wendy’s Got the Heat.”
A hallmark of “The Wendy Williams Show,” which competed for viewers with Ellen DeGeneres’ show, was her signature phrase, “How you doin’?” She transitioned to television after a successful career as a radio host, known for her hot takes on gossip and skewering of celebrities, including a contentious 2003 interview with Whitney Houston.
In 2022, Williams’ self-titled daytime talk show ended because of her ongoing health issues. Sherri Shepherd, who filled in for Williams as a guest host, received her own show.
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 and affect overall health.
Wendy Williams has frontotemporal dementia. What is FTD?
Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with a form of dementia, according to a statement released Thursday on behalf of her caretakers.
The 59-year-old former talk show host was diagnosed last year with with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia “after undergoing a battery of medical tests,” according to the statement.
A look at the condition, which also affects the actor Bruce Willis.
WHAT IS FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA?
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is a rare disease that affects parts of the brain controlling behavior and language. These parts of the brain shrink as the disease gets worse.
FTD usually occurs in people in their 40s, 50s and early 60s. It can affect a person’s personality, causing a loss of inhibition or inappropriate behavior. It is sometimes mistaken for depression or bipolar disorder, and can take years to diagnose.
“It’s a really tough diagnosis, I have to tell you,” said Johns Hopkins University cognitive scientist Brenda Rapp. “Maybe you’re doing things that are bothering people and you don’t really understand why they’re bothering people.” That can be frustrating for everyone involved, Rapp said.
The disease often includes primary progressive aphasia, which means it’s causing problems with language skills. A person with this type of FTD may have trouble finding words or understanding speech.
WHAT CAUSES FTD?
It’s caused by damage to neurons, the brain’s information carriers, but the underlying reasons for a particular case are often unclear. People with a family history of the condition are more likely to develop it. But most people with FTD have no family history of dementia.
CAN FTD BE TREATED?
There is no cure for FTD, but there are strategies for dealing with it. People might get speech therapy if they have the type that affects language. They might get physical therapy to improve movement.
Some patients receive antidepressants or drugs for Parkinson’s, which has some overlapping symptoms with FTD.
HOW FAST DOES FTD PROGRESS?
FTD can be a long illness, lasting two to 10 years. People with FTD will need caregiving or nursing support as their symptoms get worse.
“The disease will spread throughout the brain,” Rapp said. “The rate at which it does that is extremely unpredictable. So it’s very hard to know … how quickly someone will deteriorate.”
The financial burden on families can be immense. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates it costs $10,000 a year, on average, for the out-of-pocket health and long-term care for a person with dementia.
