Actor Eric Dane breaks silence on ALS battle: Will lose left side mobility soon

Actor Eric Dane, beloved for his roles in 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Euphoria', has shared a deeply emotional update about his ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) diagnosis. In an interview with Good Morning America, the actor broke down as he revealed he has 'one functioning arm'.Fighting back tears, Dane admitted that the condition has already taken a serious toll on his arm. He said, 'My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working. I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won't have my left hand either. It's sobering.'advertisementThe 52-year-old star revealed his diagnosis in April 2025. 'I wake up every day, and I'm immediately reminded that this is happening. It's not a dream,' he told Diane Sawyer. Dane first began experiencing symptoms a year and a half ago, when he noticed weakness in his right hand.
He explained, 'I didn't really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I'd been texting too much or my hand was fatigued, but a few weeks later I noticed it was getting a little worse. So I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. I went and saw a neurologist and the neurologist sent me to another neurologist and said, 'This is way above my pay grade.''Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare neurodegenerative disease that gradually paralyses muscles. Early symptoms can be muscle spasms, weakness in the limbs, and speech impairment. With time, the patient loses the muscle power to move, speak, and finally breathe.advertisementThere is no cure, but after being diagnosed, three to five years is a normal life expectancy, although some patients live considerably longer.Speaking about the unwavering support he's received from his family - especially his wife, Rebecca Gayheart - a visibly emotional Eric Dane shared, 'We've managed to become better friends and better parents. She is probably my biggest champion and my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her.'The actor also recalled a deeply personal moment during a snorkelling trip, when his daughter had to help him back to the boat after he realised he didn't have the strength to swim.'She dragged me back to the boat. I broke down in tears,' Dane said. 'But I made sure she got back in the water with her friend and continued snorkelling. I was just heartbroken.'Despite the diagnosis, Eric Dane is set to return for the highly-awaited third season of 'Euphoria'. He shared, 'In my heart, I don't feel like this is the end for me. I'm fighting as much as I can. There's so much about it that's out of my control.'Expressing his anguish over his father's suicide, Eric Dane said, 'I'm angry because my father was taken from me when I was seven, and now there's a very real possibility that I'll be taken from my daughters while they're still young.'advertisementBesides 'Euphoria 3', Dane is also gearing up for the release of his next series, 'Countdown'. It will premiere on Prime Video on June 25.

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Indian Express

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Grey Anatomy star Eric Dane battles ALS: Why we must not ignore numbness in hands and legs

Grey Anatomy star Eric Dane, who is much loved for embodying the character nicknamed 'Mc Dreamy,' has now revealed that he may have ignored first symptoms of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, making it harder for people to move, talk, eat and eventually breathe. He mistook a weakness in his right hand as a numbness from frequent texting. 'I had a 60-year-old patient who dismissed a weakness in his right palm and wrist as a routine nerve problem. Then he gradually lost functionality of his right arm, couldn't even swim and had quick muscle wasting. Early diagnosis helps us administer drugs to slow down the progression of this neuro-degenerative disease,' says Dr P N Renjen, senior consultant, neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi. 'Sometimes symptoms overlap with other nerve conditions and could delay diagnosis. Therefore, one must consult a neurologist for any nerve complaint or whenever they feel a flickering in the muscles,' he advises. What is ALS? It's a type of progressive motor neuron disease that affects the nerves controlling muscle movement. Over time, the nerves that send signals from the brain to the muscles are damaged. This causes the muscles to become weak, and slowly, a person may lose the ability to move parts of their body. It often begins with small signs like weakness in a hand, leg, or arm, but it gradually worsens and can affect speaking, swallowing, and even breathing. What causes ALS? Who is most vulnerable? ALS usually affects people between the ages of 45 and 70, though it can happen earlier in cases of juvenile motor neuron disease. In most cases, there is no clear cause. Only a small percentage of people inherit it from a parent. The condition is rare and I see one, maybe two patients in a year. In India, it affects five in 100,000 people. ALS is mostly seen in men, very rarely in women. What about diagnosis? This is most important as we have to be very sure that the condition is not a side effect of other diseases. In those cases, a movement disorder is curable. ALS isn't. A nerve conduction test and electromyography (EMG) can help in diagnosis. Can ALS be treated? Unfortunately, there is no known cure yet. However, doctors can help manage the symptoms and slow down how quickly the disease progresses. Medicines like Riluzole and Edaravone can slow disease progression and extend survival. Physical therapy can help keep the muscles working for longer, and speech therapy becomes useful when talking or swallowing becomes difficult. As breathing muscles weaken, special equipment can help ease breathing. Wheelchairs, communication devices and feeding tubes can help maintain independence. Emotional and psychological support is also important, both for the person with ALS and their loved ones. The journey may be tough but many people facing ALS show incredible strength and courage as they manage this condition.

Time of India

3 days ago

• Time of India

Eric Dane's ALS diagnosis; actor details on ordeals with terminal disease – shares daughter had to save him from drowning

Eric Dane , former 'Grey's Anatomy' actor, has opened up about his recent diagnosis of a rare neurodegenerative disease known as ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The actor shared his ordeal with the disease and how he only has 'one working arm' now. Eric Dane opens up about his ALS diagnosis Eric Danes, 52, opened up and shared his ordeal after getting diagnosed with ALS. The star, during an interview with 'Good Morning America' on June 16, shared that he now only has 'one functioning arm'. He delved into the matter and shared that 'My left side is functioning; my right side has completely stopped working. [My left arm] is going. I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won't have my left hand either. It's sobering.' The actor also talked about how the symptoms first started showing almost a year and a half ago when he started feeling weakness in his hands. He shared that after going to the doctors and getting tested for around 9 months, he was finally given a diagnosis. Dane talks about when his symptoms started showing While talking about the beginning of the disease, he shared that 'I didn't think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I'd been texting too much or my hand was fatigued, but a few weeks later, I noticed it got a little worse.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 'So I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. I went and saw a neurologist, and the neurologist sent me to another neurologist and said, 'This is way above my pay grade,'' Dane added. The actor also shared that he will never forget the three letters he received after his diagnosis. 'It's on me the second I wake up. 'It's not a dream,' he stated. Daughter saved him from drowning While sharing anecdotes about his diagnosis, the 'Marley and Me' actor shared that one time his legs almost stopped working while snorkelling, which almost resulted in him drowning. He shared that his daughter saved him that day. 'She dragged me back to the boat; I was, like, breaking down in tears. I made sure she got back to the water with her friend and continued on with the snorkelling. I was just heartbroken,' he shared. What is ALS? ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a rare neurodegenerative disease that directly affects the motor functions of the body. It was formerly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, it tends to weaken and affect muscles and voluntary movement.

India Today

4 days ago

• India Today

Actor Eric Dane breaks silence on ALS battle: Will lose left side mobility soon

Actor Eric Dane, beloved for his roles in 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Euphoria', has shared a deeply emotional update about his ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) diagnosis. In an interview with Good Morning America, the actor broke down as he revealed he has 'one functioning arm'.Fighting back tears, Dane admitted that the condition has already taken a serious toll on his arm. He said, 'My left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working. I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won't have my left hand either. It's sobering.'advertisementThe 52-year-old star revealed his diagnosis in April 2025. 'I wake up every day, and I'm immediately reminded that this is happening. It's not a dream,' he told Diane Sawyer. Dane first began experiencing symptoms a year and a half ago, when he noticed weakness in his right hand. He explained, 'I didn't really think anything of it at the time. I thought maybe I'd been texting too much or my hand was fatigued, but a few weeks later I noticed it was getting a little worse. So I went and saw a hand specialist, who sent me to another hand specialist. I went and saw a neurologist and the neurologist sent me to another neurologist and said, 'This is way above my pay grade.''Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare neurodegenerative disease that gradually paralyses muscles. Early symptoms can be muscle spasms, weakness in the limbs, and speech impairment. With time, the patient loses the muscle power to move, speak, and finally is no cure, but after being diagnosed, three to five years is a normal life expectancy, although some patients live considerably about the unwavering support he's received from his family - especially his wife, Rebecca Gayheart - a visibly emotional Eric Dane shared, 'We've managed to become better friends and better parents. She is probably my biggest champion and my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her.'The actor also recalled a deeply personal moment during a snorkelling trip, when his daughter had to help him back to the boat after he realised he didn't have the strength to swim.'She dragged me back to the boat. I broke down in tears,' Dane said. 'But I made sure she got back in the water with her friend and continued snorkelling. I was just heartbroken.'Despite the diagnosis, Eric Dane is set to return for the highly-awaited third season of 'Euphoria'. He shared, 'In my heart, I don't feel like this is the end for me. I'm fighting as much as I can. There's so much about it that's out of my control.'Expressing his anguish over his father's suicide, Eric Dane said, 'I'm angry because my father was taken from me when I was seven, and now there's a very real possibility that I'll be taken from my daughters while they're still young.'advertisementBesides 'Euphoria 3', Dane is also gearing up for the release of his next series, 'Countdown'. It will premiere on Prime Video on June 25.