Home Health What is frontotemporal dementia, which struck down Wendy Williams, 59, and Bruce Willis, 68? Aggressive condition leaves most sufferers needing 24/7 care within five years

What is frontotemporal dementia, which struck down Wendy Williams, 59, and Bruce Willis, 68? Aggressive condition leaves most sufferers needing 24/7 care within five years

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Wendy Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, her care team revealed Thursday; seen in February 2020 in New York

Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with the same aggressive, rapidly progressing form of dementia as Bruce Willis.

The talk show host, 59, announced Thursday that she has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of the condition that affects younger people and causes the personality and behavior centers of the brain to shrink.

The team also confirmed that he suffers from aphasia, which is a symptom caused by FTD and causes problems with speaking and understanding speech.

The diagnosis is the same as that suffered by Die Hard star Bruce Willis, 68, and usually affects patients under 60 years of age.

About a year before Willis’ dementia diagnosis was revealed in February 2023, the family told the public that he suffered from aphasia and had difficulty speaking.

Experts say that within three to five years after developing frontotemporal dementia, most patients end up in a nursing home, stripped of their personality and memory.

FTD accounts for approximately one in 20 cases of dementia in the United States, as well as one in 30 in the United Kingdom.

Williams’ diagnosis comes as she and her family have opened up about her struggles with alcohol and abuse, as well as her “cognitive issues.”

Wendy Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, her care team revealed Thursday; seen in February 2020 in New York

Wendy Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, her care team revealed Thursday; seen in February 2020 in New York

The diagnosis is the same as that suffered by Die Hard star Bruce Willis, 68

The diagnosis is the same as that suffered by Die Hard star Bruce Willis, 68

The diagnosis is the same as that suffered by Die Hard star Bruce Willis, 68

Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain), which affect memory, thinking and behaviour.

Common symptoms include memory loss, poor judgment, confusion, repeating questions, difficulty communicating, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, acting impulsively, and mobility problems.

It most frequently affects older adults and the risk increases after age 65. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia affects up to one in 10 American adults over age 65.

However, FTD differs from other forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, because it most commonly affects adults between the ages of 40 and 60.

Dr Susan Dickinson, medical director of the Frontotemporal Degeneration Association, previously told DailyMail.com: “Think about this: you are approaching the peak of your career, you may have children at home, you are co-parenting with your partner.” . , her spouse, etc.’

“It’s not a time of life when most doctors think about dementia.”

He said this often leads to misdiagnoses, usually depression, bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s.

95% of right-handed people and two-thirds of left-handed people use the left side of the brain's frontal and temporal lobes to process speech. The remaining third of left-handers have right-brain predominance. When there is damage to this portion of the brain, speech and language suffer.

95% of right-handed people and two-thirds of left-handed people use the left side of the brain's frontal and temporal lobes to process speech. The remaining third of left-handers have right-brain predominance. When there is damage to this portion of the brain, speech and language suffer.

95% of right-handed people and two-thirds of left-handed people use the left side of the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes to process speech. The remaining third of left-handers have right-brain predominance. When there is damage to this portion of the brain, speech and language suffer.

Williams has previously shared her battles with autoimmune disorder, Graves' disease, and lymphedema; photographed in February 2023 in New York

Williams has previously shared her battles with autoimmune disorder, Graves' disease, and lymphedema; photographed in February 2023 in New York

Williams has previously shared her battles with autoimmune disorder, Graves’ disease, and lymphedema; photographed in February 2023 in New York

But as time passes, the patient’s personality and mood change dramatically.

The Alzheimer’s Association states that “behavioral changes are often the first noticeable symptoms” in FTD, while Alzheimer’s usually causes this after the disease progresses.

And in the meantime, the damage has already been done to relationships. In the case of family finances, for example, as I said due to errors in judgment, patients may have spent their children’s college fund on a sports car or two,’ Dr Dickinson said.

“Many people lose their jobs because they make mistakes before the disease is diagnosed, so they miss out on health care, perhaps for the whole family.”

“It’s really devastating and, at such a young age, it has a very different impact on a family.”

Other differences between the diseases include that patients with FTD tend to be more apathetic, meaning they lack feelings or emotions. They may also not show concern for others or motivation.

Additionally, patients can remember the time of day and their location and keep track of recent events, unlike those with Alzheimer’s who struggle to retain new information.

But as the disease progresses, more and more areas of the brain deteriorate.

This is when symptoms become similar to those of late-stage Alzheimer’s, including difficulty eating or swallowing, needing help walking, and vulnerability to infections.

FTD accounts for approximately one in 20 cases of dementia, which represents approximately 50,000 to 60,000 Americans.

Aphasia affects about one million Americans, with 180,000 diagnosed each year.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, FTD is inherited in about a third of cases, although no other risk factors are known for the remainder of cases.

Dr. Keith Vossel, a neurologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, previously told DailyMail.com that patients with FTD tend to need full-time care within three to five years of diagnosis.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, patients can expect to live about seven years on average after diagnosis.

FTD is not fatal on its own, but it causes other problems that are serious or even life-threatening.

These include problems swallowing, which is medically called dysphagia.

Problems eating and drinking also increase the risk of developing pneumonia or respiratory failure.

Williams has previously opened up about other health issues, including her struggles with autoimmune disorders, Graves’ disease, and lymphedema.

WHAT IS FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA?

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) affects the lobes of the brain behind the forehead, which deal with behavior, problem solving, planning, and emotions.

The left temporal lobe is involved in the meaning of words and the names of objects.

The law recognizes familiar faces and objects.

FTD occurs when the nerve cells in these lobes die and the pathways connecting them change.

The symptoms are different from the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

These may include:

  • Personality changes, such as becoming tactless, disinterested in others, and unfriendly.
  • Repeated and compulsive movements, such as the continuous use of certain phrases, hoarding, and obsession with timing.
  • Craving unhealthy food and forgetting table manners.
  • Speech difficulties, including slow speech, grammatical errors, and questions about the meaning of familiar words like “bread.”

FTD is rare, accounting for less than five percent of all dementia cases.

However, it is one of the most common forms of the disease in people under 65 years of age.

Patients are usually between 45 and 65 years old at the time of diagnosis.

The rate at which FTD progresses varies greatly, with life expectancy ranging from two years to more than 10 after diagnosis.

As it progresses and more of the brain is damaged, symptoms often become similar to late-stage Alzheimer’s.

These may include memory loss and patients becoming dependent on others to care for them.

About 10 to 20 percent of FTD patients also have a motor disorder that affects their movement.

This can cause spasms, stiffness, slow movements, and loss of balance or coordination.

In later stages, these patients may have difficulty swallowing.

About a third of FTD patients have a family history of dementia.

And the condition is usually caused by a defective gene inherited from one of the patient’s parents.

Treatment focuses on helping a person live well by relieving their symptoms.

This may include counseling or a speech and language therapist.

Fountain: Alzheimer’s Society

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