The actor shared that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare degenerative disease
Veteran actor Eric Dane shared that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Dane told People. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.” The actor is married to Rebecca Gayheart and the couple have two children.
“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week,” he continued. “I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS causes loss of muscle control and there is currently no cure for this disease. Often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it, the exact cause of the disease is still not known, although a small group of cases are inherited.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that the disorder impacts 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, which causes muscle weakness, twitching, and atrophy. Eventually, those with ALS often experience trouble talking, walking, and swallowing, and the symptoms worsen over time.
Before starring as as Cal Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria, Dane featured in a recurring role as Jason Dean in the WB’s Charmed, and was later cast as Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy.
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