Media Star Wendy Williams Shares Diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Look into Living with Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease affects the lives of more than six million Americans every day, and recently, media star Wendy Williams joined the ranks of high-profile individuals sharing their diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia. This debilitating disease slowly damages the brain, impacting not only a person’s behavior but also their language skills. Wendy Williams’ announcement has shed light on the challenges faced by those living with Alzheimer’s and the urgent need for research and treatment options.
One individual who knows firsthand the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s is Carter Grine from Moore County. A retired dermatologist, Grine first noticed something was amiss when he started experiencing difficulties reading. “For some reason, it doesn’t like me to read books or calendars or anything. I’ll read numbers wrong,” he shared. Initially, Grine and his wife, Cate, attributed these symptoms to the stress of selling his practice. However, as time went on, they realized that something more serious was happening.
“That’s when I said, ‘Something is really wrong,'” Grine recalled. “I would read about 4-5 paragraphs, and then I am done, and it doesn’t come back. I would then get worked up thinking, ‘How am I going to get through the rest of my life if I can’t read and do these things?'” It was in 2023, at the age of 59, that Grine received his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and primary progressive aphasia.
The journey to diagnosis was not an easy one for Grine and his wife. It took over a year from his first MRI to seeing a neuropsychologist and a neurologist. However, once the diagnosis was confirmed, Grine began a treatment regimen to manage his symptoms. He started taking medications like donepezil and sertraline, which helped alleviate some of his cognitive difficulties. Additionally, he became one of the first patients to receive a newly approved drug called lecanemab, aimed at slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s rather than just targeting symptoms.
To receive his infusions of lecanemab, Grine now travels to Fayetteville every two weeks. The treatment has been beneficial for him, increasing his energy levels and allowing him to continue engaging in his favorite activities, such as hiking and playing tennis. However, the couple remains hopeful for further advancements in Alzheimer’s research. They keep a close eye on other potential drugs or clinical trials that Grine could participate in.
One researcher at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research is Ronit Freeman, leading a team at the Freeman Lab in UNC Chapel Hill. Just last week, her team made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the formation of the protein responsible for Alzheimer’s. Freeman explained that this protein can take a twisted form, similar to twisted pasta, unlike most proteins in the human body that have a leftward twist. This unique twist prevents the body from naturally degrading the protein, leading to its accumulation and the formation of amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s.
Freeman’s team aims to develop a drug that can untwist these right-twisting proteins, enabling the body to break them down effectively. If successful, this approach could not only halt the progression of Alzheimer’s but also reverse its effects entirely. “If we can generate local heat that won’t be damaging to any of the outer tissues, then make those untwist, then we might be able to get rid of some of them,” Freeman explained. While the study is still in its early stages, findings like these provide hope for the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s, including Grine.
Grine expressed his optimism, saying, “There’s six million people in our country right now [with Alzheimer’s], and it’s accelerating really quickly. I don’t want to be in that six million as much as I possibly can. Whoever is doing the laboratory stages, I say go get ’em!” He acknowledged that finding a cure will take time, but he remains hopeful for the future.
Wendy Williams’ brave decision to share her diagnosis has sparked conversations about Alzheimer’s and the urgent need for increased awareness, research, and support. As more high-profile individuals come forward, the public’s understanding of this devastating disease grows, leading to greater empathy and a renewed commitment to finding a cure. With ongoing research and advancements like those made by Ronit Freeman and her team, there is hope on the horizon for individuals like Carter Grine and the millions of others affected by Alzheimer’s.
