Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is extra generally referred to as ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s illness.
Gray’s Anatomy alum Eric Dane introduced in April 2025 that he had been identified with the nervous system illness.
“I’ve been identified with ALS,” the actor shared in a press release. “I’m grateful to have my loving household by my aspect as we navigate this subsequent chapter.”
The actor was married to spouse Rebecca Gayheartwith whom he shared two daughters.
“I really feel lucky that I’m able to proceed working and am trying ahead to returning to (the) set of Euphoria subsequent week,” he added. “I kindly ask that you simply give my household and I privateness throughout this time.”
Dane died at age 53 in February 2026.
Hold scrolling for all the things to learn about ALS:
What Is ALS?
ALS is “a nervous system illness that impacts nerve cells within the mind and spinal wire,” in response to the Mayo Clinic. Signs embrace a lack of muscle management, which will get worse over time, making it a degenerative illness.
Why Is ALS Known as Lou Gehrig’s Illness?
Apart from its medical moniker, ALS has been nicknamed Lou Gehrig‘s illness due to the late MLB participant who retired in 1939 due to the illness’s development. As a result of he was a public determine, Gehrig’s prognosis and eventual demise as a consequence of ALS introduced extra consciousness to the illness.
How Do You Get ALS?
The precise reason for ALS remains to be unknown. Nevertheless, it has been broadly reported that there is perhaps a genetic element to the illness. “A small variety of instances are inherited,” the Mayo Clinic printed.
Is There a Remedy for ALS?
There’s at present no remedy for ALS. Medicine have been created to sluggish the development of the illness, which permits folks to handle signs and dwell an extended life.
From Lou Gehrig in 1939 to Eric Dane in 2025, celebrities have publicly handled what’s now referred to as ALS for many years. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), additionally referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Illness, is a terminal neurodegenerative dysfunction. The illness causes the person to progressively lose management of their muscle tissues, starting progressively with muscle stiffness or (…)
In response to the Mayo Clinic, the commonest reason for demise for these identified with ALS is respiratory failure. Whereas some persons are in a position to dwell 10 years or longer following the prognosis, greater than half of these with ALS die inside 14 to 18 months.
Which Celebrities Have Spoken Out About an ALS Analysis?
Apart from Dane and Gehrig, different stars have publicly shared their ALS battles. Stephen Hawking was identified with ALS at age 21 and lived till age 76, dying in March 2018.
Singer Roberta Flack was identified in a while in life, revealing in 2022 that she additionally had ALS, which made it onerous for her to sing. She died this previous February from a cardiac arrest at age 88.