Eric Dane reveals his ALS diagnosis: What is ALS disease?

Eric Dane has recently revealed that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). “I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,” the 52-year-old actor told People magazine on Thursday.


The ‘Euphoria’ actor stated that he feels fortunate to be able to continue working and looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week. Dane, who plays the Jacobs family patriarch on ‘ Euphoria’ will begin production of season 3. The HBO show will air on April 14. The actor is also popular for his role in 'Grey's Anatomy'. “I kindly ask that you give my family and me privacy during this time,” he said.

Eric Dane is married to Rebecca Gayheart and the couple has two children - Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.

What is ALS?

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Progressive means the symptoms get worse over time.

Formerly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS affects motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing. As motor neurons degenerate and die, they stop sending messages to the muscles, leading the muscles to weaken, start to twitch (fasciculations), and waste away (atrophy).

The cause of ALS is unknown. Scientists believe many factors such as hereditary and environmental exposures are linked with ALS.

People with ALS, eventually lose the brain's ability to initiate and control voluntary movements such as walking, talking, chewing and other functions, as well as breathing.

What are the symptoms of ALS?

The early symptoms of the disease include:

• Muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder, or tongue
• Muscle cramps
• Tight and stiff muscles (spasticity)
• Muscle weakness affecting an arm, a leg, or the neck
• Slurred and nasal speech
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing

VideoAs the disease progresses, the muscle weakness and atrophy starts to spread to other parts of the body, leading to symptoms such as:

• Difficulty chewing food and swallowing (dysphagia)
• Drooling (sialorrhea)
• Speaking or forming words (dysarthria)
• Breathing (dyspnea)
• Unintended crying, laughing, or other emotional displays (pseudobulbar symptoms)
• Constipation
• Maintaining weight and getting enough nutrients

Though ALS is rare, it is more common in men than women. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports suggest less than 30,000 people in the United States have ALS; every year about 5,000 people are told by their doctor that they have the disease.