(NewsNation) — An investigative reporter who wrote a book about the exploitative side of guardianships says a new medical evaluation of Wendy Williams bodes well for the former TV host’s efforts to regain her freedom and control of her finances.

TMZ reported this week that a neurologist who recently examined Williams determined the 61-year-old does not have frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, a diagnosis that resulted in her being institutionalized at an assisted living center in New York. FTD is a progressive brain disorder that gets worse over time, but TMZ, which has championed Williams’ cause, says she “has exhibited remarkable neurological resilience since she became clean and sober 3 years ago.”

The celebrity website said Williams’ legal team hopes to use the information to end her guardianship and is prepared to demand a jury trial if a judge balks at the request.

Diane Dimond, author of “We’re Here to Help: When Guardianship Goes Wrong,” said she has been in contact with Williams and considers the celebrity to be sound.

“I’ve spoken to her on the phone for hours and hours and hours and hours. This is not a woman who is in the throes of dementia. She’s a critical thinker,” Dimond told “Banfield” on Wednesday.

The journalist has criticized the opaqueness of state-authorized guardianships or conservatorships, which are meant to protect incapacitated adults. In circumstances where large amounts of money are involved, Dimond says, protected persons can face exploitation from the court-appointed individuals who make decisions, including financial ones, for them.

“To me, guardianship is the biggest under-discussed civil rights issue of our time because when you’re ‘guardianized,’ all of your civil rights are taken away,” Dimond said.