<\/p>\n
As he manages his own amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, actor Eric Dane is also advocating for the continuation of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, which is set to expire in 2026.<\/p>\n
The actor, along with the nonprofit organization I AM ALS, spoke<\/u><\/a> with U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) on Tuesday about the importance of the legislation, which provides funding for research and gives patients early access to treatments.<\/p>\n \u201cSo often, it takes all this time for these people to be diagnosed. Well, then it precludes them from being a part of these clinical trials,\u201d Dane told Swalwell. \u201cThat\u2019s why ACT for ALS is so, so great, and it\u2019s because it broadens the access for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n It took Dane nine months before<\/u><\/a> he was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease. He announced his diagnosis in April<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n Since then, the \u201cEuphoria\u201d actor has changed his approach to fighting his condition.<\/p>\n During an interview with \u201cGood Morning America\u201d in June, Dane expressed anger at the thought of being taken from his two young daughters. He said he was mad that history might repeat itself, as his father died when the \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy\u201d alumnus was 7.<\/p>\n Months later, his frustration has turned into a fight to see his daughters\u2019 lives play out.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to see [my daughters], you know, graduate college, and get married and maybe have grandkids,\u201d Dane told Swalwell. \u201cYou know, I want to be there for all that. So I\u2019m going to fight to the last breath on this one.\u201d<\/p>\n In the video posted on TikTok by the representative, Dane speaks with a slight slur but his words echo his fight to live on.<\/p>\n About 5,000 people are newly diagnosed with ALS each year in the U.S., according to the National ALS Registry<\/a>. It affects the nerve cells in the brain that control movement, which eventually leads to the loss of the ability to speak, move, swallow and breathe.<\/p>\n Times staff writers Christie D\u2019Zurilla and Kaitlyn Huamani<\/i> contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n