Wendy Williams diagnosed with aphasia and dementia - East Idaho News

Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, according to representatives. CNN has reached out to Williams' family.

Wendy Williams, former talk show host, has been diagnosed with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, her representatives announced in a press release on Thursday. This news was shared to dispel rumors about her health and to raise awareness about her condition.

Williams has been open about her health struggles in the past, including Graves' Disease and Lymphedema. However, questions about her ability to process information and concerns about her condition were raised when she began to have difficulty with language and understanding financial transactions.

The diagnoses were received in 2023 from Weill Cornell Medicine, and the condition affects communication, personality, and language comprehension, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The decision to share this news was made to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, as well as to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Williams is currently under a court-ordered guardianship, and a documentary about her, produced with the participation of her family, is set to release soon.

Williams was the host of "The Wendy Williams Show" until 2022, when Sherri Shepherd took over her time slot. Prior to her absence from the show, she had been recovering from Covid-19 and struggling with Graves' disease. Williams began her career in radio and was known for her quick wit and no-filter interviews, as well as her candidness with her viewers.

She has also been open about her previous struggle with addiction and her decision to seek treatment for drug use, as well as her divorce from her husband, Kevin Hunter, in 2019. Overall, the news of her diagnoses is a reminder of the importance of understanding and compassion for those facing health challenges.