Eric Dane Diagnosed With ALS: Inside the Devastating Disease That Steals Movement, Speech, and Breath

Eric

Dane, who appeared in shows like Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, has announced his ALS diagnosis. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, attacks motor neurons, which serve as muscle movement controllers, thus causing progressive muscle weakness and functional deterioration. The 53-year-old actor has been open about his journey, continuing to work while raising awareness for the progressive neurological condition.

What is ALS?

ALS is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells, also known as motor neurons, which control voluntary muscles, leading to weakness, twitching, and eventual paralysis, impacting speech, movement, and breathing, with no cure but managed by supportive care and medications to control symptoms. It is the most common Motor Neuron Disease, progressively worsening as the brain loses the ability to control muscles, with diagnosis and treatment focusing on quality of life. An estimated 5,000 people in the United States receive an ALS diagnosis each year. Even though there is no cure, treatments are constantly improving. The right combination may slow the progression of the disease and improve your quality of life.

What causes ALS?

Experts say they do not know what causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but they believe it is a combination of the following factors:

Genetics

Around 70 per cent of familial cases and 5 to 10 per cent of sporadic cases involve gene changes. They are most often in the C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP, and FUS genes. There are more than 40 related genes.

Environment

Exposure to toxins like lead or mercury, viruses, or trauma may also play a role. What researchers do know is that the disease targets motor neurons. These regulate your voluntary movements, like talking, chewing, moving your limbs, and breathing. Your neurons communicate with your muscles to tell them to move. ALS disrupts communication, like bad phone reception. The messages sent from neurons to muscles break up and don’t get through clearly. This eventually causes the call to end. As a result, neurons can’t take any new calls, causing you to experience symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of ALS

Major signs and symptoms of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis include:

• Muscle weakness in your arms, legs, and neck
• Muscle cramps
• Twitching
• Stiff muscles
• Speech challenges like slurring words and trouble forming words
• Drooling
• Unintentional emotional expressions like laughing or crying
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Trouble swallowing

Early symptoms are usually muscle weakness or stiffness in your arms and legs, as well as trouble with speech and swallowing. These can make everyday tasks like writing or eating more challenging. Over time, symptoms typically spread throughout your body. The speed at which symptoms progress varies from person to person. As symptoms get more severe, you may have trouble breathing, standing, or walking. You might experience significant weight loss. Contact your healthcare provider if symptoms worsen and seek emergency care if you’re having trouble breathing.

What are the risk factors for ALS?

Risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis include:

• Age, as you may develop symptoms between the ages of 55 and 75 years
• Race and ethnicity, as most white people are most likely to get ALS
• For cases that occur before age 55, men are at higher risk
• Military veterans may be at higher risk due to environmental exposure to toxins or pesticides or physical trauma.