ALS diagnosis for ‘90 Day Fiancé’ star may boost awareness and research

Jenny Slatten, known for appearing on TLC’s “90 Day Fiancé” franchise, recently revealed that she is living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive disease that affects nerve cells controlling muscle movement. By sharing her diagnosis publicly, Slatten may help raise awareness of ALS and the ongoing need for research into new treatments and a cure.

Slatten, 68, and her husband, Sumit Singh, disclosed her diagnosis in May ahead of their appearance on season three of the spinoff “90 Day: The Last Resort,” which premiered June 1.

The couple live in India and have been fan favorites since making their debut on “90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way” in 2019. They learned of Slatten’s diagnosis in December, about a year after her symptoms began. According to media reports, early symptoms included choking while drinking water, migraines, and difficulty swallowing pills.

Just weeks before receiving her diagnosis, Slatten flew from India to New York City for a “90 Day Fiancé” holiday party, where her slowed speech was apparent. The symptoms eventually prompted further medical evaluation.

ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing progressive muscle weakness that can lead to difficulty swallowing, speaking, and breathing. The disease gradually damages motor neurons, causing muscles throughout the body to weaken over time. Although treatments may help manage symptoms and slow disease progression for some people, there is currently no cure.

Slatten, whose father died of ALS more than a decade ago, shared news of the diagnosis in an Instagram post.

“At first, we tried to keep it private because it’s been very emotional and overwhelming for us. We were hoping to find some kind of solution before speaking publicly. But after trying for some time, we feel like it’s time to reach out. Thank you so much for all the love and support. Right now, we are open to any kind of help — treatments, clinical trials, lifestyle changes, or anything that could help treat this disease or slow down its progression.”

Celebrity diagnoses can boost ALS awareness

Public disclosures by well-known figures often draw attention to ALS, helping educate people about the disease and encouraging support for research, advocacy, and patient services.

The actor Eric Dane, known for his roles in “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” died in February after living with ALS. Before his death, he used his platform to raise funds for research and bring visibility to the disease. He joined I AM ALS to launch the Push for Progress campaign, which seeks $1 billion in federal funding over three years for research and better treatments.

Actor A. Russell Andrews, known for “Insecure” and “Better Call Saul,” shared his ALS diagnosis last month.

Richard Bedlack, MD, PhD, director of the ALS Clinic at Duke University and the Stewart, Hughes, and Wendt Distinguished Professor of ALS, said people from different backgrounds contribute in different ways to ALS awareness and research efforts.

“One of the reasons we are better together is that we all bring different resources to the collective fight against ALS,” Bedlack said.

“Famous people, for example, are often charismatic and have large numbers of fans. When famous people share their ALS journey, they massively increase the number of people [who] care about it. The more people care, the more resources get devoted to it. More resources [mean] faster research progress toward cures,” Bedlack said.

Brian Frederick, chief marketing and communications officer at The ALS Association, said that when a person like Slatten shares a diagnosis publicly, it can help shape understanding of the disease.

“Jenny’s openness about her ALS diagnosis takes tremendous courage. We hope that by sharing her story, Jenny will move more people to better understand ALS and help us fight for a cure. ALS is relentless but so is the community fighting it.”

As Slatten begins navigating life with ALS, advocates hope her willingness to speak publicly about the disease will help increase awareness, encourage support for research, and advance the ongoing search for new treatments and a cure.