Former American talk show host Wendy Williams has expressed her gratitude to fans for the overwhelming support following her recent diagnosis of dementia and aphasia. In a statement to the Associated Press, the 59-year-old acknowledged the outpouring of love and kind words, emphasizing the power of unity and the importance of compassion.

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Williams, who hosted the nationally syndicated Wendy Williams Show for over a decade until its end in 2022 due to health struggles, thanked supporters for countering inaccurate rumors about her health. Her care team officially announced the diagnosis to address concerns about her ability to process information, erratic behavior, and difficulty with financial transactions. The diagnosis was confirmed through a series of medical tests last year.

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A statement said: "As Wendy's fans are aware, in the past she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves' Disease and Lymphedema as well as other significant challenges related to her health."

"Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy's ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy's condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions."

The care team added the diagnosis was confirmed by "a battery of medical tests" last year.

Aphasia, a nervous system syndrome affecting communication abilities, leads to challenges in expressing thoughts and may result in a loss of speech or writing capabilities.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), an incurable brain disorder, damages the left side of the brain, impacting language and communication skills. Symptoms worsen over time, and while they can be managed, there is no treatment to slow or prevent progression, according to the National Institutes of Health.

FTD tends to affect individuals at a younger age compared to other forms of dementia, with most diagnoses occurring between 45 and 64 years old. Notably, Hollywood star Bruce Willis also faces aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, leading to his retirement from acting.

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