Eric Dane, known for his roles in Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy, shared he's been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
"I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he told People. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.” The 52-year-old Hollywood star is supported by his wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two daughters, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
Despite the diagnosis, Dane remains positive about his work, stating: "I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week," He requested privacy for himself and his family: "I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time."
Dane, who portrays Cal Jacobs on the acclaimed HBO series, is gearing up to start filming the third season of on April 14.
ALS, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a devastating illness that progressively attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle paralysis.
The ALS Association explains the term "Amyotrophic" originates from Greek, where "A" means no, "myo" is related to muscle, and "Trophic" signifies nourishment—implying that without nourishment, muscles waste away.
"Lateral" indicates the specific regions in the spinal cord affected by the disease, where nerve cells that control muscles can be found. As these cells deteriorate, it results in scarring or hardening ("sclerosis") within that part of the spinal cord.
Motor neurons, which travel from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body, progressively degenerate in ALS, leading to their eventual death.
When these motor neurons die, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control muscle movement. As voluntary muscle action is progressively affected, individuals may lose the ability to speak, eat, move, and breathe.
Initial symptoms often include twitching or weakness in a limb, frequently followed by slurred speech. The motor nerves impacted in ALS are the motor neurons responsible for voluntary movements and muscle control.
Voluntary movements, such as reaching for a phone or stepping off a curb, are controlled by the muscles in the arms and legs. Cases of ALS are categorized in two distinct ways.
Approximately 90% of all cases have no known family history of the disease or presence of a genetic mutation linked to ALS. For 5-10% of all cases, there's a known family history of the disease, often referred to as familial ALS. Recent years have seen new scientific understanding about the physiology of ALS.
Currently, seven drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ALS and its symptoms: Qalsody, RELYVRIO, Radicava, Rilutek, Tiglutik, Exservan, and Nuedexta.
There is no cure for ALS, and typically, individuals live three to five years post-diagnosis, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. However, some patients can live for many decades.
Besides Dane, other famous personalities who have been diagnosed with ALS include Aaron Lazar, John Driskell Hopkins, Eric Stevens, Joe Bonsall, Roberta Flack, Kenneth Mitchell, and Stephen Hawking.