- By Charlotte Gallagher
- Cultural correspondent
1 hour ago
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Wendy Williams says she still needs “personal space and peace to thrive”
Former US talk show host Wendy Williams has thanked fans for their support during her dementia and aphasia diagnosis.
Williams, 59, said her reaction has been “overwhelming” and she is “immensely grateful for the love and kind words” she has received.
In a statement released to the Associated Press, the star said the news reminded her of “the power of unity and the need for compassion.”
She hosted the nationally broadcast Wendy Williams Show for over a decade.
It ended in 2022 amid the health issues she faced.
Her care team announced her diagnosis Thursday “to correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health.”
A statement said: “Wendy's fans know that she has been open with the public in the past about her medical issues with Graves' disease and lymphedema, as well as other major health issues.”
“In recent years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy's ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy's condition, particularly as she began to lose her words, behave erratically at times and have difficulty understanding financial transactions.”
The care team added the diagnosis was confirmed through “a series of medical tests” last year.
Image source: Getty Images/Paras Griffin
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The show with Wendy Williams was very popular in the USA
Aphasia is a nervous system syndrome that affects the ability to communicate. Patients often have difficulty expressing thoughts and even lose the ability to speak or write.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an incurable brain disease caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the brain, affecting the ability to speak and communicate. The symptoms, which get worse over time, can be treated, but there is no treatment that can slow or prevent their progression, the National Institutes of Health says.
The rare disease tends to strike at a younger age than other forms of dementia, with most people being diagnosed between the ages of 45 and 64.