Wendy Williams, former talk show host, has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
The celebrity was diagnosed last year following several medical tests, her team said in a statement on Thursday.
They said the conditions have “presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.”
Her team added in a news release: “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.”
The TV star has previously spoken about her health battles, including Lymphedema and Graves’ Disease.
Lymphedema is a chronic condition that causes swelling in a person’s body and can affect any part. But it usually develops in the legs. Graves’ Disease is an immune system disorder that leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormones and can cause swelling of the neck and protrusion of the eyes.
In 2022, it was announced her daytime talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, would come to an end due to her health battles.
Her team added the decision to share her latest issues with fans was “difficult and [were] made after careful consideration”. They added she is still able to “do many things for herself” after undergoing 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,” the release stated.
“She is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way.”
Aphasia is a language disorder, that affects speech and the understanding of language, it’s caused by damage to parts of the brain. Depending on which areas of a person’s brain are affected, each patient will have various levels of ability to speak.
Frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon type of the disease that causes issues with behaviour and language, affecting the front and sides of the brain. It’s part of the umbrella term, dementia, with is revolves around problems with mental abilities caused by gradual damage and changes within the brain.
Bruce Willis, Hollywood movie star, announced he would be retiring from acting after being diagnosed with the condition in 2022. He was also later diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
