Latest news with #neurodegenerative
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eric Dane Reveals the Heartbreaking Detail About Parenting Amid His ALS Diagnosis
Euphoria Eric Dane revealed his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis to the world in April and his first sit-down interview with Good Morning America (GMA) on June 16 is uncovering some heartbreaking details. The 52-year-old actor shares two daughters with wife Rebecca Gayheart: Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, and that's who he thinks about most in his battle with the fatal neurodegenerative disease. After his dad died by suicide when Dane was seven, he's crushed by the thought that his children might share that same experience — losing a parent at a tender age. More from SheKnows Megan Fox & Machine Gun Kelly Reveal Their Newborn Daughter's Name - & It's Both Poetic & Edgy 'I'm angry because, you know, my father was taken from me when I was young,' Dane explained. 'And now, you know, there's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young.' The reality of what was happening to him took a terrifying turn a few months ago while he was out on a boat trip with his youngest daughter. As a former competitive swimmer and water polo athlete, Dane has always been comfortable in the water. He's at the point in his disease where he's lost the function of his right arm and realized that he 'couldn't generate enough power to get myself back to the boat.' It was Georgia who had to save him. 'I realized I am not safe in the water anymore. She dragged me back to the boat,' he added. 'I was breaking down in tears and so, I made sure she got back in the water with her friends and continued on with the snorkeling with the guide. I was just, I was, like, heartbroken.' Gayheart stepped up as his consistent rock after their seven-year separation which began in 2018 with her divorce filing. 'After 14 years together we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family,' Dane said in a statement to People. 'We will continue our friendship and work as a team to co-parent our two beautiful girls as they are the most important thing in the world to us.' Their co-parenting relationship was steady through the years, but in March 2025, she requested to dismiss her divorce amid his ALS diagnosis. The former Grey's Anatomy star sang her praises in his GMA interview. 'We have managed to become better friends and better parents,' he continued. 'She is probably my biggest champion and my most stalwart supporter and I lean on her.' According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS is 'a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes loss of muscle control.' The disease gets worse over time and there is no cure. Life expectancy after diagnosis is two to five of SheKnows Recent Baby & Toddler Product Recalls Every Parent and Caregiver Should Know About These Podcasts for Parents of Teens Will Make You Feel Seen These Hot Famous Dads Are Making Fatherhood Look Finer Than Ever
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Why Americans who live near coastlines and lakefronts may face heightened ALS risk
If you live near bodies of water frequently impacted by harmful algal blooms, you may be at an increased risk of dying from ALS, new research reveals. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the debilitating neurodegenerative disease commonly known as 'Lou Gehrig's Disease,' is influenced by genetics and environmental factors. It dramatically slashes the patient's life expectancy, with people typically passing away within two to five years of diagnosis. Some 5,000 are diagnosed with ALS each year in the U.S., and there are approximately 15 new cases each day. Recently, Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane announced he was battling the disease and told Good Morning America that his body's right side had 'completely stopped working.' Now, researchers at the University of Michigan Medicine say toxins produced by algal blooms in lakes and along American coasts could influence disease progression. 'While there is still limited research into the mechanism by which cyanobacteria toxins affect neurodegenerative diseases, our findings suggest that living near or participating in activities in these water bodies may influence the progression of ALS,' Dr. Stephen Goutman, the school's Harriet Hiller research professor, director of the Pranger ALS Clinic, and associate director of the ALS Center of Excellence, said in a statement. Goutman is the senior author of the study which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Specifically, the researchers have found a toxin produced by the bloom cyanobacteria in brain and spinal fluid cerebral spinal fluid samples of people with ALS. It's known as ß-methylamino-L-alanine. Increasingly driven by human-caused climate change and nutrient pollution, the blooms are caused when cyanobacteria grows dense and out of control. Cyanobacteria produce several toxic agents that are linked neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. They surveyed participants who were seen at the University of Michigan Pranger ALS Clinic, many of whom lived within three miles of a harmful algal bloom. They measured the duration and extent of their exposure using satellite data from the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network and their residential and health histories. Ultimately, they found that living near blooms -- especially if swimming or boating -- was associated with dying of ALS nearly one year sooner. The people with the most significant exposures both lived near harmful blooms and used a private well as their water source. People in the Midwest may be particularly threatened partially due to pervasive industrial and agricultural productions in the region. Michigan's Lake Erie is frequently impacted by these blooms. 'If exposure to cyanobacteria toxins is a meaningful risk factor for ALS, the large number of inland lakes from to such bacteria in the Midwest may partly explain why the disease incidence is much higher than other parts of the country,' Dr. Stuart Batterman, first author and professor of environmental health sciences at the university's School of Public Health, said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Eric Dane Recalls Terrifying Moment His Daughter Saved Him From Nearly Drowning
Eric Dane opened up about one of the hardest moments he's experienced as a father since he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. The 'Grey's Anatomy' actor spoke to Diane Sawyer about the neurodegenerative disease in a soul-bearing interview for 'Good Morning America,' released this week. Sawyer said Dane used to be a competitive swimmer and water polo player, but he had a harsh wake-up call about his safety during a boat trip with his teenage daughter a few months ago. 'When I jumped into the ocean that day and realized I couldn't swim [or] generate enough power to get myself back to the boat, I thought, 'Oh god,'' Dane shared. 'And then I realized in that moment I'm not safe in the water anymore.' Dane's daughter had to rescue him, which greatly affected the 'Euphoria' star. 'She dragged me back to the boat. I was breaking down in tears,' he explained, adding that he 'made sure she got back in the water with her friend and continued on with the snorkeling with the guide.' He added, 'But I was just heartbroken.' Dane, 52, said he first began experiencing symptoms about a year and a half ago. He spoke to Sawyer about how the disease has quickly affected his body. He said he is down to 'one functioning arm' ― his left ― and is worried about his legs losing function soon. Despite everything, the actor said that he doesn't 'think this is the end of my story.' He said, 'I'm fighting as much as I can. There's so much about it that's out of my control.' Moving forward, all he wants to do 'is spend time with my family, and work a little bit if I can.' FULL INTERVIEW: Former "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane speaks out for the first time in a television interview about his battle with ALS, a degenerative neurological disorder. "I don't think this is the end of my story." @ABC News' @DianeSawyer reports. — Good Morning America (@GMA) June 16, 2025 Dane first publicly revealed he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in April. 'I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,' the actor told People magazine in a statement at the time. Dane shares two teenage daughters with fellow actor, Rebecca Gayheart. Eric Dane Reveals The ALS Symptom He Initially Dismissed Eric Dane Describes Waking Up With ALS In First TV Interview Since Announcement 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Reveals ALS Diagnosis
National Post
4 days ago
- Health
- National Post
Ferrer Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for FNP-223 in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
Article content BARCELONA, Spain — Ferrer, a B Corp-certified international pharmaceutical company, has announced that FNP-223, a novel therapy in-licensed from Asceneuron and aimed at slowing the development of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), has received Fast Track designation from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). FNP-223, a new molecular entity in active development for PSP, is in an ongoing Phase 2 study to evaluate its safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics in adult patients with possible or probable PSP-Richardson syndrome (PSP-RS), the most common clinical variant of this neurodegenerative disease 1. Article content We are thrilled to receive Fast Track designation from the FDA for FNP-223 in the treatment of PSP. Consistent with our purpose of using business to fight for social justice, we are committed to advancing this promising therapy to patients. Article content 'We are thrilled to receive Fast Track designation from the FDA for FNP-223 in the treatment of PSP. Consistent with our purpose of using business to fight for social justice, we are committed to advancing this promising therapy as quickly as possible to benefit as many patients as possible,' said Mario Rovirosa, Chief Executive Officer of Ferrer. Article content Fast Track designation is a significant milestone in the drug development process. It is a program that offers the possibility of having more frequent meetings with the FDA to discuss the drug's development, eligibility for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review if relevant criteria are met. Article content 'This designation underscores the importance of expediting the development and review of FNP-223 to address critical unmet needs in patients with this rare and devastating disease,' said Marta Parmar, Ferrer's Chief Quality, Regulatory and Pharmacovigilance Officer. Progressive supranuclear palsy manifests in patients with symptoms such as difficulty speaking, imbalance, changes in gait, cognitive problems 2-4. PSP has a prevalence of approximately 5 cases per 100,000 people and primarily affects individuals over the age of 60 3. The disease's etiology is believed to be related to the abnormal accumulation of tau proteins in certain areas of the brain, leading to neurodegeneration 3,4. Preclinical models have demonstrated that FNP-223 can prevent the abnormal accumulation of tau proteins in neurons 5. Ferrer now aims to show that this molecule is safe and effective in patients with PSP. Article content Oscar Pérez Article content , Chief Scientific Officer of Ferrer, also expressed his enthusiasm: 'Receiving Fast Track designation is a significant milestone in our journey to provide a transformative treatment for PSP. We are excited to advance our research and hopefully offer a new therapeutic option earlier for patients living with this challenging condition.' Article content About FNP-223 Article content FNP-223 is a new orally administered chemical compound that functions as a reversible and substrate-competitive inhibitor of the O-GlcNAcase (OGA) enzyme 5. Mechanistically, FNP-223 binds to the active site of OGA enzyme. As a result, the inhibitor prevents the substrate from accessing the catalytic pocket, thereby impeding the removal of O-GlcNAc modifications from natural client proteins such as the tau protein. Inhibiting O-GlcNAcase is expected to cause a rapid increase of O-GlcNAcylated (glycosylated) tau proteins, ultimately leading to a reduction in abnormal aggregated tau as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) over a certain period 5. Article content Bibliography: Article content 1. A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 2 Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of FNP-223 (Oral Formulation) to Slow the Disease Progression of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) (PROSPER). [Internet]. Available from: Article content 2. Coughlin DG, Litvan I. Progressive supranuclear palsy: Advances in diagnosis and management. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2020 Apr;73:105-116. doi: 10.1016/ Epub 2020 May 25. Article content 3. Agarwal S, Gilbert R. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. Available from: Article content 4. Rowe JB, Holland N, Rittman T. Progressive supranuclear palsy: diagnosis and management. Pract Neurol. 2021;21(5):376-383. doi: 10.1136/practneurol-2020-002794. Article content 5. Permanne B, Sand A, Ousson S, Nény M, Hantson J, Schubert R, et al. D. O-GlcNAcase Inhibitor ASN90 is a Multimodal Drug Candidate for Tau and α-Synuclein Proteinopathies. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2022 Apr 20;13(8):1296-1314. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00057. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Ferrer Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for FNP-223 in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
BARCELONA, Spain, June 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ferrer, a B Corp-certified international pharmaceutical company, has announced that FNP-223, a novel therapy in-licensed from Asceneuron and aimed at slowing the development of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), has received Fast Track designation from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). FNP-223, a new molecular entity in active development for PSP, is in an ongoing Phase 2 study to evaluate its safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics in adult patients with possible or probable PSP-Richardson syndrome (PSP-RS), the most common clinical variant of this neurodegenerative disease1. "We are thrilled to receive Fast Track designation from the FDA for FNP-223 in the treatment of PSP. Consistent with our purpose of using business to fight for social justice, we are committed to advancing this promising therapy as quickly as possible to benefit as many patients as possible," said Mario Rovirosa, Chief Executive Officer of Ferrer. Fast Track designation is a significant milestone in the drug development process. It is a program that offers the possibility of having more frequent meetings with the FDA to discuss the drug's development, eligibility for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review if relevant criteria are met. "This designation underscores the importance of expediting the development and review of FNP-223 to address critical unmet needs in patients with this rare and devastating disease," said Marta Parmar, Ferrer's Chief Quality, Regulatory and Pharmacovigilance Officer. Progressive supranuclear palsy manifests in patients with symptoms such as difficulty speaking, imbalance, changes in gait, cognitive problems2-4. PSP has a prevalence of approximately 5 cases per 100,000 people and primarily affects individuals over the age of 603. The disease's etiology is believed to be related to the abnormal accumulation of tau proteins in certain areas of the brain, leading to neurodegeneration3,4. Preclinical models have demonstrated that FNP-223 can prevent the abnormal accumulation of tau proteins in neurons5. Ferrer now aims to show that this molecule is safe and effective in patients with PSP. Oscar Pérez, Chief Scientific Officer of Ferrer, also expressed his enthusiasm: "Receiving Fast Track designation is a significant milestone in our journey to provide a transformative treatment for PSP. We are excited to advance our research and hopefully offer a new therapeutic option earlier for patients living with this challenging condition." About FNP-223 FNP-223 is a new orally administered chemical compound that functions as a reversible and substrate-competitive inhibitor of the O-GlcNAcase (OGA) enzyme5. Mechanistically, FNP-223 binds to the active site of OGA enzyme. As a result, the inhibitor prevents the substrate from accessing the catalytic pocket, thereby impeding the removal of O-GlcNAc modifications from natural client proteins such as the tau protein. Inhibiting O-GlcNAcase is expected to cause a rapid increase of O-GlcNAcylated (glycosylated) tau proteins, ultimately leading to a reduction in abnormal aggregated tau as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) over a certain period5. Bibliography: 1. A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 2 Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of FNP-223 (Oral Formulation) to Slow the Disease Progression of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) (PROSPER). [Internet]. Available from: 2. Coughlin DG, Litvan I. Progressive supranuclear palsy: Advances in diagnosis and management. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2020 Apr;73:105-116. doi: 10.1016/ Epub 2020 May 25. 3. Agarwal S, Gilbert R. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. Available from: 4. Rowe JB, Holland N, Rittman T. Progressive supranuclear palsy: diagnosis and management. Pract Neurol. 2021;21(5):376-383. doi: 10.1136/practneurol-2020-002794. 5. Permanne B, Sand A, Ousson S, Nény M, Hantson J, Schubert R, et al. D. O-GlcNAcase Inhibitor ASN90 is a Multimodal Drug Candidate for Tau and α-Synuclein Proteinopathies. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2022 Apr 20;13(8):1296-1314. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00057. View source version on Contacts gortizdez@ +34 936003779 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
