What is ALS? Sandra Bullock's partner dies from neurological disease
Sandra Bullock’s long-time partner Bryan Randall has died aged 57 after a three-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
In a statement released by his family, they said that the photographer "chose early to keep his journey with ALS private".
"We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours," they told People.
Bullock's sister later praised the actor, 59, for being an 'amazing caretaker' to Randall before his death.
"ALS is a cruel disease but there is some comfort in knowing he had the best of caretakers in my amazing sister and the band of nurses she assembled who helped her look after him in their home," Gesine Bullock-Prado wrote on Instagram.
Bryan Randall's death: Read more
Sandra Bullock's long-term partner dies after three-year battle with ALS - Sky News, 1-min read
Sandra Bullock’s sister praises actor for being an ‘amazing caretaker’ to late partner Bryan Randall - The Independent, 3-min read
What is ALS?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND) - a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain to stop working - and accounts for around 60% to 70% of MND cases.
ALS affects around 5,000 people in the UK. It is more likely to affect men than women and sees both the upper motor neurones and lower motor neurones degenerate at the same time.
According to the MND Association, someone with ALS will experience "weakness and wasting in the limbs, muscle stiffness and cramps. Someone may notice they are tripping when walking or dropping things".
It adds that life expectancy is usually two to five years once symptoms begin.
ALS signs and symptoms
Some early symptoms of ALS include:
Muscle twitches and cramps
Tight and stiff muscles
Muscle weakness, particularly in the arm, leg, neck and diaphragm
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Slurred speech or nasal speech
Once ALS develops, the patient will notice that muscle weakness will spread to other parts of their body. Further symptoms include:
Inability to walk, stand, or get out of bed on their own
Inability to use their hands and arms
Eventually unable to breathe on their own and must use a ventilator
Anxiety and depression caused as patients are still mentally alert and are aware of progressive loss of function
People with ALS are still able to taste, touch, smell and hear.
ALS causes
While the exact cause for ALS is still unknown, some risk factors can include genetics, as 10% of people with ALS have a gene passed down from a family member.
Age is also a factor, as it’s more likely to affect people between the ages of 60 and 85. Before the age of 65, more men are likely to develop ALS than women.
Some environmental factors associated with ALS include smoking, environmental toxin exposure, and serving in the armed forces.
ALS treatment
While there is no cure for ALS, there are some treatments that can reduce the impact that the symptoms have on a patient’s life, including a medicine called riluzole that can slightly slow down the progression of the condition.
The NHS also recommends medicines to relieve muscle stiffness, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
In late 2022, King's College London reported that it was trialling a new treatment for ALS that had shown ‘promising’ results.
The trial tested a molecule that helps to regulate the immune system, and found that 80% of people with ALS who were treated with the molecule had higher chances of survival, while it decreased the risk of death by 40%.
Study author Professor Timothy Tree said: "These absolutely remarkable results represent a real breakthrough in ALS research, and could lead to big changes in treatment options for patients living with this devastating disease. The findings also provide valuable insights on how the power of the immune system can be harnessed to tackle MND, helping shed light on other potential treatment strategies."
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral on social media in July and August 2014, which saw people across the world pour buckets of ice water over their heads in order to raise money for the condition.
Countless celebrities participated in the challenge, including former US president George W. Bush, Tom Cruise, Mel B, Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow, Coleen Rooney, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Hemsworth and Meghan Markle.
In the UK, over £7 million was raised for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
For support with ALS, you can call the MND Association helpline on 0808 802 6262 or visit the website at mndassociation.org.
Watch: Sandra Bullock's sister pays tribute to late brother-in-law Bryan Randall
