Dementia and aphasia can be like dark clouds looming over the sun. They can affect how someone interacts with the world around them, how they communicate, and even how they see themselves. Following former American talk show host Wendy Williams’ shocking diagnosis, a doctor explains the conditions and what to expect.
Williams is no stranger to the limelight, with the media reporting on Williams’ alleged diagnosis of “alcohol-induced dementia and aphasia”. Over the past years, she spoke openly about her health challenges with Graves’ Disease and lymphedema, and her struggle with alcohol and cocaine was widely reported.
However, over the last two years Williams’ health deteriorated rapidly. Her care team announced her diagnosis on Thursday last week, saying:
“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.”
Williams is not the only celebrity who has succumbed to dementia and aphasia. A year ago, action star Bruce Willis’ family announced that he had been suffering from aphasia and frontotemporal dementia since 2022.
What is aphasia and dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a rare disease that affects parts of the brain controlling behaviour and language, according to Associated Press. “These parts of the brain shrink as the disease gets worse. The disease often includes primary progressive aphasia, which means it’s causing problems with language skills. A person with this type of FTD may have trouble finding words or understanding speech.”
According to Dr Lethu Letsoalo who runs #Keready mobile clinics in the Western Cape, dementia occurs when a person’s brain has difficulty remembering, reasoning, and executing ordinary tasks.
“It’s not just one thing, but like a variety of symptoms that gets in the way of day-to-day life.”
Dr Lethu Letsoalo
She says aphasia is different but related. “It’s when someone finds it hard to talk, understand, read, or write because their brain and words aren’t linking up properly. Imagine wanting to say ‘apple’ but it comes out as ‘car’,” she explains.
BREAD NEXT: Bruce Willis: From ‘Die Hard’ to dementia
Who gets it?
Anyone can be hit by these conditions, but it’s more common in older people. That said, young people aren’t totally out of the woods, she says.
With dementia, it’s rare but can happen because of genes (passed down from your family), or serious head injuries. For aphasia, it mostly comes after a brain injury or a stroke, explains Letsoalo.
“Sometimes, conditions like severe migraines, epilepsy, or tumours can play a part too.”
Treatment methods
Letsoalo emphasises that treatment and coping might be difficult, but there are methods to make the journey easier.
According to Letsoalo, there are some of the recommendations if you or a loved one suffers from the condition:
- Stay healthy: Eat well, stay active, and get plenty of rest.
- Exercise your brain: Puzzles, learning new skills, or even playing brain games can help keep the mind sharp.
- Talk about it: Sharing how you feel with friends, family, or a trusted person can lighten the load.
- Routine: Keeping a regular schedule helps a lot, especially for those struggling with memory or understanding.
- Getting professional help: If you or someone you know might be showing signs of dementia or aphasia, it’s crucial to talk to a healthcare provider.
Avoid alcohol
According to MentalHelp.net, if you or a loved one have recently been diagnosed with dementia, it is common to feel a variety of feelings, including denial, anger, fear, loneliness, frustration, loss, or depression.
They illustrate that it may be tempting to drink alcohol as a coping mechanism for dementia since it might briefly make you feel better and distract you from thinking about your diagnosis.
However, avoid using alcohol as a coping mechanism. It may interfere with medication or create extra health or cognitive issues; also, it will not effectively manage your emotions in the long run.
ALSO READ: Facing dementia in the family: CT woman speaks out
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