What is ALS? Eric Dane battled this disease before his death
“Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane has died at 53 following a battle with ALS.
ALS, short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a nervous system disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and causes loss of muscle control, according to Mayo Clinic.
“ALS is a nasty disease,” Dane told The Washington Post in an October interview. After a fall in his kitchen, he “was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head.”
“ALS is a progressive disease in which a person’s brain loses connection with the muscles, slowly taking away their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe,” the ALS Association’s website notes.
Here’s what to know about the disease.
ALS symptoms
ALS generally begins with muscle weakness that spreads and gets worse over time, the Mayo Clinic notes. Though symptoms vary from person to person depending on which nerve cells are affected, symptoms may include:
- Trouble walking, tripping and falling
- Weakness in the hands, legs, feet or ankles
- Slurred speech or trouble swallowing
- Muscle cramps or twitching
- Untimely crying, laughing or yawning
- Thinking or behavioral changes
In December, Dane expressed his dedication to continue working despite the symptoms he was dealing with.
“I’m fairly limited in what I can do physically as an actor, but I still have my brain, and I still have my speech, so I’m willing to just do about anything. I’ll take on any role,” he said. “I’m grateful that I can still work in any capacity.”
What causes ALS?
ALS affects the nerve cells, called motor neurons, that control voluntary muscle movements like walking and talking, Mayo Clinic explains.
“ALS causes both groups of motor neurons to gradually deteriorate and then die. When motor neurons are damaged, they stop sending messages to the muscles. As a result, the muscles can’t function,” the clinic notes.
In about 10% of people with ALS, a genetic cause can be identified, the clinic adds. But for the rest, the cause is unknown.
Who is at risk for ALS?
In addition to genetics as an established risk factor for ALS, age and sex are also factors to consider.
Risk of ALS increases with age, with it being most common between the ages of 60 and the mid-80s, according to the Mayo Clinic. And before the age of 65, slightly more men than women develop ALS, the clinic notes, though the sex difference disappears after 70.
Other factors like smoking, toxin exposure and military service have also been associated with an increased risk of ALS.
ALS treatment
There is no cure or treatment that stops ALS from progressing, the ALS Association notes, but certain treatments can help slow and ease symptoms.
Treatment options include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, psychotherapy and certain medications, according to the association.
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