The death of actor and ALS advocate Eric Dane has brought renewed public attention to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Dane, 53, announced his diagnosis in April 2025. According to his family, Dane spent his final days surrounded by friends, his wife, and his daughters. In a statement announcing his passing, they said, “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.”

Best known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” Dane also used his platform in the last year of his life to advocate for ALS awareness and research.

For nurses, his story offers both a reminder of how ALS often presents and the profound impact multidisciplinary care can have on patients and families navigating this diagnosis.

A Subtle Beginning, A Devastating Diagnosis

Dane previously shared that he began experiencing symptoms approximately a year and a half before his diagnosis, starting with weakness in his right hand. Initially, he dismissed the symptom, thinking he had been texting too much. But over the following weeks, the weakness progressed.

After several visits to his primary care provider, a hand specialist, and multiple neurologists, he was diagnosed with ALS nine months after first noticing symptoms.

“I’ll never forget those three letters,” Dane said at the time.

For nurses in primary care, neurology, orthopedics, and emergency settings, early symptoms such as unexplained muscle weakness can be easy to attribute to more common conditions. Dane’s experience underscores how ALS can begin subtly before its progressive nature becomes clear.

Understanding ALS: What Happens in the Body

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. These motor neurons control voluntary muscle movement.

As motor neurons degenerate and die, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control muscle movement. The result is progressive muscle weakness, fasciculations, stiffness, and ultimately paralysis.

As the disease advances, it affects muscles responsible for essential functions, including speaking, swallowing, and breathing. While ALS does not typically affect cognitive function, senses, or bowel and bladder control in its early stages, some individuals may experience cognitive changes in later stages.

There is currently no cure for ALS. The disease is ultimately fatal, most often due to respiratory failure. Treatment focuses on improving quality of life and can only minimally delay the onset of more severe symptoms.

“Every person is unique, but people with ALS generally survive no more than three to five years after the diagnosis of the disease,” said Robert Connors, M.D., Co-Director, ALS Center, Hackensack University Medical Center & assistant professor of neurology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “It’s an awful disease in desperate need of exactly the sort of advocacy and awareness Eric Dane has done in the last year. Hopefully, the awareness he has raised will lead to more research.”

The Role of Multidisciplinary Care

Hackensack Meridian Health partners with ALS United and the ALS Association to offer multidisciplinary clinics for patients with ALS in Hackensack and Neptune, New Jersey. These clinics provide access to a range of providers and advocates, as well as the latest clinical research.

Multidisciplinary care has been shown to improve both survival time and quality of life. For nurses, this model reinforces the importance of coordinated care across neurology, respiratory therapy, speech therapy, nutrition, palliative care, and psychosocial support.

“The pace of research in ALS has been accelerating in the past decade. We haven’t arrived at a cure yet, but HMH and all of the patients who have participated in trials at our clinics are hoping to move the needle closer and closer,” said Jafer Kafaie, M.D., Director of Neuromuscular Diseases at Hackensack University Medical Center, and professor of neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Why This Matters for Nurses

High-profile cases like Dane’s often increase public awareness and prompt patients to ask questions about symptoms, prognosis, and research options.

Nurses are frequently the first point of contact when patients report early neuromuscular symptoms. They are also central to ongoing symptom management, patient education, care coordination, and end-of-life support.

Dane’s advocacy in the final year of his life highlights the power of awareness in driving research and community support. For the nursing profession, it is a reminder of the critical role nurses play not only in clinical management but also in helping patients and families navigate the emotional and practical realities of a life-altering diagnosis.