Popular American TV host Wendy Williams was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia recently. Let’s see what this condition is and how dangerous it can be for Wendy.
Wendy Williams has been facing certain health-related challenges for several months. On Thursday, her healthcare providing team revealed that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
However, the condition has impacted her life on a big scale, and Wendy is still able to manage her things independently. Her care team revealed that Wendy is receiving all the necessary treatment to fight against the FTD.
The press release stated, “Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy’s ability to process information, and many have speculated about her (Wendy’s) condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions.”
The press release added, “The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy but to raise awareness about this condition and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances.” The press also added some facts for awareness regarding aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
What is primary progressive aphasia?
Primary progressive aphasia is a kind of nervous system syndrome that impacts the ability to communicate. People with this CNS health condition often have trouble expressing their what they want and understanding or finding relevant words.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition starts becoming problematic at the age of 65 and gets worse over time. Individuals with this type of FTD can lose the ability to focus on tasks like writing and speaking.
Frontotemporal dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is a common term to indicate a range of brain diseases that mainly affect the frontal lobes of the brain. This condition is also a type of frontotemporal dementia.
Symptoms of primary progressive aphasia
The symptoms may vary based on which part of the brain is impacted by the condition. Depending on the brain parts, PPA is divided into three major variants: Semantic, Logopenic, and Nonfluent.
Semantic variant symptoms
Trouble understanding written or spoken languages, meaning words, and trouble formulating sentences.
Logopenic variant symptoms
Trouble understanding spoken language, taking pauses while talking, unable to repeat sentences.
Nonfluent variant symptoms
Poor grammar in spoken or written language, using grammar incorrectly, trouble understanding tough sentences, etc.
Causes of primary progressive aphasia
This condition is mainly caused by a shrinking of certain brain areas called lobes. In primary progressive aphasia, temporal or parietal lobes are affected.
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