- Eric Dane, known for Grey's Anatomy, died at 53 after battling ALS
- He announced his ALS diagnosis in April 2025 and advocated for awareness
- ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease causing muscle control loss
Eric Dane, widely known for his character of Dr. Mark Sloan in popular TV drama Grey's Anatomy, has died at 53. The actor, in April 2025, shared that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A statement from his family revealed that he died peacefully on Thursday afternoon, surrounded by close friends, his wife, and daughters, Billie and Georgia. The statement read, "With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world."
Dane, while speaking about his ALS diagnosis last year had said, "I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter." Since then, Dane had revealed that he had lost functions in his right arm in June 2025, months after he announced his diagnosis. Even as the actor continued raising ALS awareness, the fact that the disease progressed so fast, fast enough to claim his life in 10 months, has come as a shock to many, despite the well-known fact that ALS is fatal.
This simply raises the question about how fast ALS progresses, whether this case was exceptional or not, and which other diseases may act as quickly as this one does. Speaking to NDTV, Dr. Bharath Kumar Surisetti, Consultant Neurologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, said, "ALS can progress very differently in each person. In some, it moves quickly, especially if simple yet vital functions like breathing or swallowing are affected early. Others may live for several years after diagnosis, while some face a faster decline. The course of the disease is unpredictable."
What Is ALS?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The disease affects the muscles, which eventually leads to loss of muscle control. The symptoms worsen over time and the condition progresses fast. While the exact cause of the disease is not known, there are a few cases that are inherited. The early symptoms of ALS include muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing or slurred speech. This eventually affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. It is important to note that there is no cure for this fatal disease.
Why Do Symptoms Of ALS Progress Fast?
While ALS is a progressive disease, it can take about 2-5 years from the time of diagnosis to death. Some people might live for 5 years or more, others might survive with the condition for over a decade.
Dr. Aravind P R, Consultant, Rehabilitation Medicine at Aster Whitefield said, “10-month progression for any disease is too fast. 10-months is too rapid a progression for ALS. Usually ALS patients have a progression over decades. However, quality of life will definitely be affected. They will have various forms of disabilities and might also be wheelchair bound. In the long run, they might have respiratory failure and some other complication like pneumonia.”
Dr. Kumar Surisetti also shared factors that speeds up the progression of the disease. He said, "ALS progresses at different speeds in different people. Genetics play a big role. Certain mutations can make the disease move faster. Where symptoms begin also matters; if speech or swallowing are affected early, decline is usually quicker. Age, nutrition, and overall health influence the pace too. Environmental factors may contribute, but the course remains unpredictable. Each patient's journey is unique, shaped by a mix of genetic and lifestyle factors."
Certain diseases can also contribute to the progression of ALS, however, it is not the only condition. "Neurological diseases like atypical Parkinson's disease, fronto temporal dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, or aggressive forms of multiple sclerosis may also worsen rapidly. Certain cancers, autoimmune disorders, or severe infections can behave in a similar way. How fast a disease advances depends on the underlying cause, the body's immune response, and which organ systems are affected," said Dr. Kumar Surisetti.
Other Diseases That Progress Fast
Some neurological and neurodegenerative diseases can progress within weeks or months, unlike slow dementias like Alzheimer's. These conditions include:
- Multiple System Atrophy (MSA): This is a condition that progresses more rapidly than Parkinson's disease. It affects movement and also leads to involuntary function loss (blood pressure, digestion).
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP): This is a rare condition that leads to deterioration in balance, walking, eye movements, and swallowing. The condition may cause severe disability within three to five years.
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS): This is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks peripheral nerves. It leads to muscle weakness and numbness. In severe cases, it can lead to near-total paralysis within just a few days or weeks.
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): This disease causes rapid and severe brain damage, with most people not surviving more than a year after symptoms begin.
- Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP): This is a type of motor neuron disease (MND) that affects speech and swallowing muscles first.
- Rapidly Progressive Dementia (including FTD): Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) can cause rapid changes in personality, behaviour and language.
- Marburg Variant Multiple Sclerosis: A very rare and aggressive form of MS that progresses rapidly and can be fatal if not treated.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
