Scientists still can’t agree on what exactly causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the disease which killed Euphoria actor Eric Dane, but two lifestyle changes could reduce your chance of developing the disease.Dane died at the age of 53 earlier this month after a year-long battle with ALS, aneurodegenerative condition which causes progressive muscle weakness.Commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease in the US, ALS is the most common type of motor neurone disease (MND). Motor neurones are nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord which allow us to perform simple tasks such as speaking, moving and swallowing.As MND progresses breathing becomes more difficult, with the main cause of death for patients with ALS being respiratory failure.

MND affects 5,000 people in the UK at any one time, and there is a one in 300 chance of developing it during your lifetime.There is no cure for ALS, which impacts the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, with the average life expectancy being two to five years after diagnosis.A third of people die within a year of their diagnosis, and more than half die within two years.For around 10 to 15 percent of people with ALS, the disease runs in the family, but for others the cause is less clear.Scientists believe it is a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. Around 40 genes have been identified that researchers think could cause or increase the likelihood of ALS.Research on the causes and treatment of ALS is ongoing, with a preliminary study shared at the American Academy of Neurology’s 78th Annual Meeting last April suggesting that physical activity and the time in which you wake up in the morning may reduce your likelihood of developing the disease.The study tracked 500,000 people and compared early and late risers, finding that participants who were productive earlier in the day had a 20 percent lower risk of developing ALS.