Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA) are back in the public eye after news that former talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with both neurologic conditions. The Feb. 22 announcement explained that Williams, 59, made her diagnoses public in part “to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances.”
The statement noted that people with these conditions are often misunderstood and stigmatized, especially when they exhibit behavioral changes before a diagnosis. “There is hope that with early detection and far more empathy, the stigma will be eliminated, and those affected will receive the understanding, support, and care they deserve and need,” Williams’ care team wrote. The family of actor Bruce Willis made a similar announcement about his diagnosis of PPA in 2022 and his progression to FTD in 2023, saying they wanted to raise awareness of the conditions. Willis, 68, is now retired.
FTD includes several brain diseases that typically affect the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, which are associated with personality, behavior, and language, according to Mayo Clinic. As these areas of the brain atrophy, people may struggle to speak, become more impulsive, or act inappropriately in social situations.
PPA, a type of FTD, happens when the frontal lobes related to speech and language begin to deteriorate. People with the disorder usually have trouble speaking, finding words, or understanding conversations. Later, the condition affects memory and the ability to handle everyday tasks. FTD is rare and tends to develop at a younger age than other types of dementia. Approximately 60 percent of people with the disorder are 45 to 64 years old, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
To diagnose PPA, neurologists may conduct tests to evaluate language abilities, which can involve asking patients to repeat words, say the name of an object, or describe a picture. Neurologists also may assess memory and attention, order imaging scans to check for irregularities in the brain, or test spinal fluid for proteins that might indicate Alzheimer’s disease. After a diagnosis of PPA, neurologists may refer patients to speech, art, or music therapists, who can help improve communication. They also may recommend that patients stay physically and socially active.
Williams, who hosted “The Wendy Williams Show” from 2008 to 2022, has previously spoken about her experience with Graves' disease (an immune system disorder) and lymphedema (in which fluid builds up in the body). Her latest diagnoses came after she began acting erratically and had trouble with speech and processing information, including understanding financial transactions, according to the announcement.
Since her diagnosis, Williams is getting appropriate medical care and “is still able to do many things for herself.” And her sense of humor remains intact, according to her care team. “Wendy is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way.”
Patients and their loved ones can learn more about these conditions on BrainandLife.org. Other resources are available through the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
