Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria fans reacted with shock and sadness at the news today that star Eric Dane is living with a form of deadly motor neurone disease.
In a statement to People magazine, the actor, 52, revealed he had been handed the devastating diagnosis, and added: ‘I am grateful to have my loving family by my side.’
Dane, who currently appears as Cal Jacobs in HBO‘s award-winning series Euphoria, said he was ‘continuing to work, and looking forward returning to the set next week’.
The TV hunk is best known for being Dr Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy from 2006, played Jason Dean in fantasy drama series Charmed and featured in films such as Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day and Burlesque.
The news came a month after Dane and his wife, model Rebecca Gayheart – with whom he shares daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13 – called off their divorce.
‘The Eric Dane news actually made me sick to my stomach this is so so so sad,’ wrote one commentator on X, summing up the general mood.
‘Such a horrific diagnosis,’ said another. ‘Sending prayers.’
So just what is motor neurone disease, what does it mean for sufferers like Eric Dane and what are the symptoms people need to be aware of?
Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria fans reacted with shock and sadness at the news today that star Eric Dane is living with a form of deadly motor neurone disease
The TV hunk is best known being Dr Mark Sloan, above with Dr Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey, on Grey’s Anatomy from 2006
Mr Dane has a specific type of motor neurone disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which also hit renowned physicist Stephen Hawking.
As with all kinds, it is a rare neurological condition that damages the nervous system over time, resulting in difficulties walking, speaking, eating and breathing which worsen as the condition progresses.
It’s not fully understood why motor neurone disease occurs and there are no treatments to halt its cruel march—instead, doctors focus on alleviating the worst of the symptoms.
Around 5,000 adults in the UK and roughly the same number in the US have motor neurone disease—there is a one in 300 risk of developing the condition.
The average life-expectancy of a patient with the ALS form is between two to five years from the point of diagnosis, although some patients live longer—as was the case for Hawking, who survived for 50 years with the illness.
Here, MailOnline breaks down the early warning signs of the fatal condition that everyone needs to know…
Muscle twitches and cramps
Unexplained muscle twitches and cramps are among the early signs.
This can also feel like a rippling sensation under the skin, according to Motor Neurone Disease Association.
In a statement to People magazine, the actor, 52, revealed he had been handed the devastating diagnosis, and added: ‘I am grateful to have my loving family by my side’
The news came a month after Dane and his wife Rebecca Gayheart – with whom he shares daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13 – called off their divorce. The family are pictured above in 2017
However, twitching by itself is not usually associated with neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease unless other symptoms are present, the charity explains.
It can also happen with tiredness, stress, viral infections or general ill health.
Some tremors and twitches are normal and can be caused by caffeine, stress and age.
Feeling tired all the time
A common symptom is fatigue—a feeling of constant, extreme exhaustion, ‘burnout’ or lack of energy—which is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones.
These cells gradually stop working over time, although it’s not known why this happens.
Other problems that are common with motor neurone disease, such as insomnia, can exacerbate this.
Fatigue usually happens once other symptoms of the condition become more obvious.
Dane, who currently appears as Cal Jacobs in HBO’s award-winning series Euphoria, above, said he was ‘continuing to work and looking forward returning to the set next week’
Weakness in the legs
Tripping, falling and finding it harder to climb the stairs can be a sign of motor neurone disease.
That’s because the condition can causes muscle weakness in the ankles and legs.
When a muscles get weaker they reduces in size, also known as wasting or atrophy.
‘Foot drop’ can be an early symptom, where one foot sometimes feels weak or drags, according to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
It’s important to remember this could also be caused by an injury or another condition, but it should still be checked out by your GP, it adds.
Weak or stiff hands
Dropping things due to having weak or stiff hands, could be a warning sign of a neurological problem.
Just as it causes weakness in the ankles and legs, motor neurone disease can cause a weak grip, making it harder to open jars, do up buttons and even hold objects, the NHS says.
However, stiff hands or a weak grip can also be an indication of age related joint problems or a trapped nerve.
Dane has a type of motor neurone disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which also hit late physicist Stephen Hawking
Slurred speech
People with MND suffer from weak muscles in the face, mouth, tongue or throat. This can also cause difficulty in swallowing food, the NHS adds.
It can also affect the volume, or ‘loudness’ of your speech, according to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The charity explains that faint speech can happen if a person feels breathless.
Emotional outbursts
The condition doesn’t just affect the muscles, but the mind too.
Because it is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones, it can also change the way patients behave and think.
In fact, up to half of people diagnosed with MND experience these changes, according to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
It can make it harder to stop yourself from crying or laughing in inappropriate situations, the NHS explains.
For most people these changes are mild and do not severely impact their daily life.
