A Closer Look at Aphasia Dementia: Wendy Williams' Diagnosis and Time Away from the Spotlight

Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

In 2023, Wendy discovered she had these conditions. A representative for the erstwhile talk show host issued a press release on February 22, 2024, stating that these challenges have massively impacted Wendy's life.

The statement partly read, “Wendy owes the establishment of these diagnoses to the meticulousness of her current care team, and the specialists at Weill Cornell Medicine, who have worked extraordinarily."

Despite her health issues, Wendy still retains most of her independence and continues to undergo treatment, according to the press release. She still possesses her prominent sense of humor and gets the necessary care to ensure her protection and that her needs are catered for," the statement added.

The press release concluded, "She appreciates the overwhelming kindness and good wishes directed towards her."

According to Mayo Clinic, primary progressive aphasia refers to a dementia type affecting the brain's frontal or temporal sections. It interferes with an individual's capacity for effective communication, writing, and language understanding.

Speaking in incoherent or incomplete sentences are some aphasia symptoms.

Typically resulting from head injuries or strokes, degenerative diseases can also trigger this disorder, as per Mayo Clinic. Speech therapy is commonly recommended to manage language difficulties alongside treating its cause.

The public had raised concern about the media star's health for many years prior to her diagnosis. Wendy's representative stated that revealing her diagnosis aimed to dispel the hurtful and incorrect speculations about "her health."

The explanation in the February 22, 2024 statement said, "Wendy's cognitive abilities have been questioned occasionally over the past few years. Many speculated about the state of her health, particularly when she began misspeaking, acting wildly at times, and struggling with financial transactions. However, diagnosing her condition has allowed Wendy to receive the necessary medical care."

Wendy has a past record of health challenges, prompting her to step down from hosting her daytime talk show in 2021.

In February 2018, Wendy stated that she was taking a short break from her show as she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disorder leading to an overactive thyroid gland, potentially causing severe health issues as per the National Institutes of Health.

Wendy has publicly discussed her battles with lymphedema, a condition causing swelling in limbs due to the blockage in the lymphatic system, according to the Mayo Clinic. In an interview with TMZ in June 2022, she admitted that she had only about 5% sensation in her feet due to the condition.

Her health challenges and retreat from public view will be the focus of the soon-to-be-released Lifetime docuseries, Where Is Wendy Williams? The series is scheduled to premiere on February 24, 2024.