Eric Dane has been diagnosed with ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” alum shared the news in a statement to People on Thursday, saying he feels grateful for his family’s support and fortunate to be able to continue working.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Dane, 52, said. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
“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.”
Dane has been married to actor Rebecca Gayheart since 2004. Gayheart had filed for divorce in 2018. However, just last month, she requested to dismiss her paperwork, according to People.
The couple are parents to daughters, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
ALS, short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the ALS Association.
ALS affects the nerve cells, or motor neurons, that control voluntary muscle movements. People may lose muscle control and the ability to “speak, eat, move and breathe” as the motor neurons begin to degenerate, per the ALS Association.
The ALS Association states that most people are diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 70, although ALS can occur in younger people.
There is no cure or treatment that slows the progression.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that recent estimates suggest that up to almost 30,000 people in the United States may be living with ALS.
