Popular US talk show host Wendy Williams diagnosed with dementia

Williams rose to fame in part due to her no-boundaries approach to life. Photo / AP

Former talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with the same form of dementia that actor Bruce Willis has, a statement released 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 behavioural and cognitive impacts, awareness of the tragic condition is growing.

“Wendy is still able to do many things for herself. Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humour and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She appreciates the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way,” the statement said.

The announcement came a day after a cover story in People magazine quoted Williams’ family about the nature of her struggles.

Former TV talk show host Wendy Williams attends a ceremony honouring her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Photo / AP

“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 jeweller” 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 behaviour, 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 behaviour. It is sometimes mistaken for depression or bipolar disorder, and can take years to diagnose.

Williams rose to fame in part due to her no-boundaries approach to 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.

Williams rose to fame in part due to her no-boundaries approach to life. Photo / AP

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.