Eric Dane, former 'Grey's Anatomy' star opens up about battle with ALS: All you need to know about it

Actor Eric Dane who starred in the popular series 'Grey's Anatomy' as Mark Sloan recently opened up for the first time in a television interview about his battle with ALS, a degenerative neurological disorder.

"I wake up every day and I'm immediately reminded that this is happening. It's not dream," he said to Diane Sawyer in the interview that aired on Good Morning America on Monday.

Dane first revealed he had been diagnosed with ALS in April. "I don't think this is the end of my story. I don't feel like this is the end of me," he added. What is the disease and how is it caused? Know all about it below!

What is ALS?

ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is a degenerative neurological disorder whose symptoms worsen over time. Formerly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, it affects the motor neurons in the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing.

As the motor neurons degenerate and die, they stop sending signals to the muscles, leading them to weaken over time. Thus, eventually, the brain loses its ability to start and control voluntary movements such as walking, talking, chewing and even breathing, among other things.

What are the symptoms of ALS?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, early symptoms of ALS include muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder or tongue, muscle cramps, tight and stiff muscles, slurred and nasal speech and difficulty chewing or swallowing.

As the disorder progresses, people might have problems with chewing and swallowing, drooling, speaking, breathing, unintended emotional displays, constipation and maintaining a healthy weight.

Are there any risk factors with ALS?

While anyone can develop ALS, there are certain conditions or behaviours that increase the likelihood of it. In terms of age, it is more prone in people between the ages of 55 and 75 and in terms of biological sex, men are more likely to develop it than females.

Is there any treatment for ALS?

There is no treatment for ALS at this time. However, some treatments may help slow the progression of the disorder. There are certain medicines that have been approved by the FDA to help treat ALS. These include Riluzole, an oral medicine believed to reduce damage to motor neurons, Edaravone, an antioxidant given orally or intravenously to slow functional decline in people with ALS and Tofersen, a spinal injection.