Eric Dane has been diagnosed with ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Gray’s “Anatomy” student shared the news in a statement to people on Thursday, saying that he feels grateful for the support of his family and the luck of being able to continue working.
“I have diagnosed Als,” said Dane, 52. “I am grateful to have my beloved family by my side as we sail for this next chapter.”
“I feel lucky that I can continue working and I am anxious to return to a set of ‘Euphoria’ next week,” he continued. “I kindly ask that I give my family and privacy during this time.”
Dane has been married to actor Rebecca Gayheart since 2004. Gayheart had requested divorce in 2018. However, last month, he requested to dismiss his paperwork, according to People.
The couple are parents of daughters, Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13.
ELA, abbreviation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the Als association.
ELA affects nerve cells, or motor neurons, which control voluntary muscle movements. People can lose muscle control and the ability to “speak, eat, move and breathe” as motor neurons begin to degenerate, according to the Als association.
The ALS Association establishes 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 down the progression.
Centers for disease control and prevention establish that recent estimates suggest that up to almost 30,000 people in the United States may be living with ELA.
