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Tag: Lou Gehrig's Disease

  • Netflix Releases a Posthumous Interview With Eric Dane After His Death From ALS

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    “I think when the lights go out, it’s over,” he said in an interview for “Famous Last Words,” a Netflix series that’s available now. “I do believe that once we go to sleep or however it is we — we go, once we’re gone, we’re gone.”

    He also hoped in the interview that his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, would remember how he was present in their lives. He went to beach volleyball games and dance recitals, adding that he’d seen “The Nutcracker” many times and his review was, “That thing drones on, man.”

    “Famous Last Words” is based on a show that originated in Denmark. The premise is that a person is interviewed — executive producer Brad Falchuk does the questioning in the Netflix show — and it will not be released until their death.

    Dane’s interview is the second episode. The first was with primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall, who died last October. Falchuk tells The Associated Press he’s recorded five conversations already with plans for more.

    No one else was present on set for the taping last November and even the camera operators were in a different room.

    “The guest needs to be totally safe to speak honestly and say whatever they want and know that they’re leaving something for people to experience with them not here,” Falchuk said on Friday. Only a small number of people work on the production of the show afterward. “Very, very few people have seen it and very, very people even know whose done it,” explained Falchuk.

    “Famous people don’t often get an opportunity to speak honestly about themselves and about what they think in the world,” said Falchuk who is married to Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow. “They have to be very protective, especially nowadays. They say things and it goes everywhere and it gets misinterpreted and they also want to keep working or keep you know doing what they do, so this is an opportunity for them not to have to be guarded.”


    Dane’s ALS advocacy lives on

    After his ALS diagnosis, Dane became an advocate to raise awareness and money to fight the disease. After his death, the organization I AM ALS released clips of him recorded for an upcoming documentary.

    “It’s a tough thing to respond to, it’s a tough thing to live with, yeah. But it’s really hard for the people around me too. And it’s almost like — in a weird way, it’s to some benefit, because I spend a lot of my time consoling others,” he said in a clip released Friday.

    Filmmaker Chris Burke also captured Dane on a trip to Washington D.C. where he lobbied politicians for a bill that would help accelerate research, expand access to treatment and secure one billion dollars in federal funding for ALS patients.

    “He understood that ALS is not just a diagnosis; it is a call to action for families, for answers, and for change,” the organization said in a statement after Dane’s death.


    Dane’s last message to his daughters

    In the Netflix show, Dane also reflected on the lifelong impact of losing his father at age 7 and subsequent struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol. He said he immediately knew he would marry Rebecca Gayheart when he met her and shared a memory of a family vacation to France where he spent a car ride speaking with a “spot on” French accent that made everyone laugh.

    The most poignant part of the taping was at the end — when Falchuk left the room for Dane to look into the camera and deliver a final message which he dedicated to his daughters. Dane shared that his diagnosis with ALS taught him to be present. He also hoped the girls would “fall in love,” whether it be with a person or something that would make them want to wake up each morning.

    “I hope you won’t just listen to me. I hope you’ll hear me,” he said.

    Falchuk said this final message is something each guest has the opportunity to do. “People do all different kinds of stuff. Some people write it. Jane improvised hers. Eric wrote his,” said Falchuk, who was visibly emotional at the idea of Dane’s daughters watching his message.

    “It’s hard to think about that,” he said. “They’re grieving and he loved them so much. They loved him so much and they’re just a beautiful family. I don’t know. Maybe they’ll watch it. Maybe they’ll never watch it, whatever it may be.”

    Falchuk and Dane had dinner prior to filming and they didn’t know each other well, but a new friendship had developed from the experience.

    ”I’m grieving Eric a lot right now. It’s very hard. I was not expecting this to happen this soon. And I miss him,” said Falchuk. “It’s hard when they die. It is hard.”

    The exchange seemed to also have an impact on Dane, who told Falchuk, “This is probably the most revealing and in-depth conversation I’ve had with just about anybody.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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  • The Latest On Medical Cannabis and ALS

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    The latest on medical cannabis and ALS explores symptoms, research, patient relief options, and emerging clinical insights

    It has been in the news with actor Eric Dane struggling with the ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, remains one of the most challenging neurological disorders confronting patients and clinicians today. Characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons—the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles—ALS leads to muscle weakness, loss of mobility, difficulty speaking and swallowing, and ultimately respiratory failure. There is currently no cure for ALS, and most individuals diagnosed with the condition live only three to five years after symptom onset. Treatments focus on slowing progression and managing symptoms to improve quality of life. But what is the latest on medical cannabis and ALS.

    RELATED: Cannabis Can Help PTSD

    Patients with ALS may first notice subtle symptoms such as muscle twitching, weakness in a limb, or slurred speech, which gradually evolve into more severe impairments affecting daily living. As the disease progresses, individuals often struggle with activities like walking, speaking, eating, and breathing. While cognitive function is usually preserved, some people experience changes in emotional expression and mood. There is a strong emphasis in clinical care on coordinated support—spanning physical therapy, respiratory assistance, nutritional counseling, and psychosocial support—to address complex patient needs.

    Amid ongoing research into traditional pharmaceuticals and genetic therapies, interest has grown in the potential role of medical cannabis as a complementary approach for symptom management in ALS. Cannabinoids—the active compounds in cannabis such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol)—interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is involved in regulating pain, muscle tone, appetite, and mood. Preclinical studies in animal models suggest cannabinoids might exert antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects could slow the degeneration of motor neurons, though more rigorous clinical trials in humans are needed.

    In patient surveys and early clinical observations, people with ALS have reported medical cannabis helps relieve several symptoms commonly associated with the disease. These include pain, poor appetite, anxiety, muscle cramps, spasticity, and drooling. Some users also report improvements in sleep quality and overall well-being. However, it’s important to note the definitive evidence of long-term benefits or effects on disease progression in humans is still limited, and outcomes can vary widely between individuals. A recent retrospective study found short-term symptom relief for pain and anxiety with medical marijuana use but also observed a correlation with faster functional decline, underscoring the complexity of interpreting these findings and the need for controlled clinical research.

    RELATED: Is Cannabis Now The #1 Sleep Aid

    Ongoing trials—such as placebo-controlled studies evaluating cannabis-based extracts for slowing disease progression—aim to clarify whether cannabinoids have a measurable impact on ALS beyond symptom relief. As researchers continue to explore both conventional and alternative therapies, patients and clinicians alike emphasize individualized care plans weigh potential benefits, side effects, and legal considerations related to medical cannabis. For authoritative research news, advances in clinical trials, and emerging treatment strategies beyond cannabis, consider the ALS Association and academic neurology publications as additional resources.

    Medical cannabis is not a cure for ALS, but for some patients it may offer meaningful relief of specific symptoms when used under medical supervision. The landscape of ALS treatment is evolving, and continued research will help clarify where cannabis may fit within broader therapeutic strategies for this devastating disease.

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    Amy Hansen

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  • Woman who lost her ability to speak due to ALS got it back in an unexpected way

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    KCCI EIGHT NEWS AT TEN. A NORWALK WOMAN WHO LOST HER VOICE TO ALS GOT IT BACK IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY. KCCI ABIGAIL CURTIN SPOKE WITH HER THIS EVENING. ABIGAIL, TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HER STORY. WELL, THIS IS A PRETTY INCREDIBLE STORY, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN STRUGGLE WITH WHEN THEY HAVE ALS. MUSCLE WEAKNESS. DIFFICULTY EATING, EATING, AND COMMUNICATING. THOSE CAN BE HARD. AND THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE STRUGGLES THAT ROBIN LEEPER HAS HAD TO OVERCOME SINCE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED BACK IN 2023. BUT NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN ABLE TO EASE SOME OF THAT STRUGGLE AND GIVE HER A PART OF HERSELF BACK. WHEN ROBIN LEEPER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ALS IN 2023, IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST MOMENTS OF HER LIFE. BUT WHEN SHE LOST HER ABILITY TO TALK, IT WAS EVEN HARDER. I CRIED, AND FOR THE FIRST YEAR I COULDN’T EVEN SAY ALS WITHOUT CRYING. AT THE TIME, SHE WAS THE PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF NORWALK. FOR A WHILE, SHE TRIED OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION LIKE TEXT TO SPEECH, SOFTWARE OR SIGN LANGUAGE. BUT THAT’S WHERE THE CITY’S MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, TY LUE, CAME IN. WE HAVE FIVE SWIMMING POOLS. SHE COMBED THROUGH HOURS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, RECORDS ISOLATING CLIPS OF ROBIN SPEAKING FROM WHEN SHE STILL COULD. FROM THERE, SHE UPLOADED THEM INTO AN AI SOFTWARE TO RECREATE ROBIN’S VOICE, WHICH SHE USED TO ACCEPT. NORWALK CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD. I AM TRULY, DEEPLY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT SOUNDED AS IF SHE WAS JUST STANDING THERE SPEAKING ON HER OWN. IN FACT, I HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE SAY I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT SHE WAS PLAYING A RECORDING OF HER VOICE. BUT FOR LEEPER, IT WASN’T JUST EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR HER OWN VOICE AGAIN. IT WAS A CHANCE TO FEEL LIKE HERSELF AGAIN. IT’S YOUR IDENTITY. PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOUR VOICE WITHOUT SEEING YOUR FACE, AND THEY KNOW THAT’S YOU. AS FOR WHAT’S NEXT, SHE’S GOT A NEW PRIORITY. FINDING A CURE. BOXHOLM. LIKE I SAID, A PRETTY INCREDIBLE STORY. AND SPEAKING OF FINDING A CURE, LEEPER WILL BE AT THIS SATURDAY’S WALK TO DEFEAT ALS IN ALTOONA. FOR MORE DETAILS ON THAT WALK AND HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT LEEPER. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THIS STORY ON KCCI.COM. FIRST OF ALL, AN AMAZING EXAMPLE OF THE GOOD THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN DO. ABSOLUTELY A CREDIT TO EVERYBODY WHO HELPED THIS HAPPEN. AND ROBIN, YOU KNOW, WE’RE THINKING OF YOU AND ADMIRE YOUR STRENGTH. AND I KNO

    Woman who lost her ability to speak due to ALS got it back in an unexpected way

    Updated: 4:02 AM PDT Oct 11, 2025

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    An Iowa woman who lost her ability to speak due to ALS got it back in an unexpected way.Robin Leaper was diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in 2023. Since then, she’s struggled with muscle weakness and difficulty eating, and she’s no longer able to speak. It’s been an adjustment, to say the least.”For the first year, I couldn’t even say ALS without crying,” she said. When she was diagnosed, she was the Parks and Recreation director for the city of Norwalk.Since then, she’s tried to communicate in other ways, like text-to-speech software or sign language, but neither one has allowed her to use her own voice.Until the city’s marketing and communications specialist, Tai Lieu, came in.Lieu combed through hours of public meeting recordings in which Leaper spoke, isolating her vocals and uploading them to an AI voice recreation software.That software allows Leaper to type her words, which are then read aloud in her own voice.”It sounded as if she was just standing there, speaking on her own,” Lieu said of Leaper’s first attempt at using the software when she won Norwalk’s Citizen of the Year Award last year. “I had several people say, ‘I didn’t realize she was playing a recording of her voice.’”But for Leaper, the AI recreation does more than allow her to use her own voice; it allows her to feel like herself again.”It’s your identity,” she said. “People can hear your voice without seeing, and they know it’s you. It gave me back a little piece ALS stole from me.”As for what’s next, Leaper says she has a new priority: finding a cure.She plans to start with Altoona’s Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday.

    An Iowa woman who lost her ability to speak due to ALS got it back in an unexpected way.

    Robin Leaper was diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in 2023. Since then, she’s struggled with muscle weakness and difficulty eating, and she’s no longer able to speak.

    It’s been an adjustment, to say the least.

    “For the first year, I couldn’t even say ALS without crying,” she said.

    When she was diagnosed, she was the Parks and Recreation director for the city of Norwalk.

    Since then, she’s tried to communicate in other ways, like text-to-speech software or sign language, but neither one has allowed her to use her own voice.

    Until the city’s marketing and communications specialist, Tai Lieu, came in.

    Lieu combed through hours of public meeting recordings in which Leaper spoke, isolating her vocals and uploading them to an AI voice recreation software.

    That software allows Leaper to type her words, which are then read aloud in her own voice.

    “It sounded as if she was just standing there, speaking on her own,” Lieu said of Leaper’s first attempt at using the software when she won Norwalk’s Citizen of the Year Award last year. “I had several people say, ‘I didn’t realize she was playing a recording of her voice.’”

    But for Leaper, the AI recreation does more than allow her to use her own voice; it allows her to feel like herself again.

    “It’s your identity,” she said. “People can hear your voice without seeing, and they know it’s you. It gave me back a little piece ALS stole from me.”

    As for what’s next, Leaper says she has a new priority: finding a cure.

    She plans to start with Altoona’s Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday.

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  • ALS And Medical Marijuana

    ALS And Medical Marijuana

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    Star Trek actor Kenneth Mitchell lost his battle with ALS.  Can Medical Marijuana help others who suffer?

    The Fresh Toast – It is a devastating disease and more research needs to be done to help patients. And in regards to help, what about ALS and medical marijuana?

    Roughly over 5,000 people in Canada and the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year with over 20,000 smuggling with the disease.  Over 15 people are diagnosed daily. ALS is estimated to be responsible for as many as five in every 100,000 deaths in people 20 years or older.  The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is between two to five years from the time of diagnosis. Some people do live for more than five years. More than half of all ALS patients live more than three years after diagnosis, 20 percent live five years or more, up to 10 percent live more than 10 years, and about five percent live 20 years or more. What about ALS and medical marijuana.

    RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal type of motor neuron disease. It is characterized by progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. It is also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, after a famous baseball player who died from the disease.

    Currently, there is no cure for ALS but there are some treatments available.

    Cannabis has properties applicable to symptom management of ALS, including analgesia, muscle relaxation, bronchodilation, saliva reduction, appetite stimulation, and sleep induction. With respect to the treatment of ALS, from both a disease modifying and symptom management viewpoint, clinical trials with cannabis are key to helping patients. Based on the currently available scientific data, it is reasonable to think that cannabis might significantly slow the progression of ALS, potentially extending life expectancy and substantially reducing the overall burden of the disease.

    RELATED: 5 Morning Activities To Help You Feel Happier

    As ALS progresses, though, more and more symptoms are noticed. These are the most common symptoms of ALS:

    • Twitching and cramping of muscles, especially those in the hands and feet
    • Loss of motor control in the hands and arms
    • Impairment in the use of the arms and legs
    • Tripping and falling
    • Dropping things
    • Persistent fatigue
    • Uncontrollable periods of laughing or crying
    • Slurred or thick speech and trouble in projecting the voice

    As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

    • Trouble breathing
    • Trouble swallowing
    • Paralysis

    If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to seek a physician’s guidance immediately. Otherwise, be an advocate and champion for more medical research.

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    Amy Hansen

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  • FDA panel overwhelmingly votes against experimental ALS treatment pushed by patients

    FDA panel overwhelmingly votes against experimental ALS treatment pushed by patients

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    Federal health advisers voted overwhelmingly against an experimental treatment for Lou Gehrig’s disease at a Wednesday meeting prompted by years of patient efforts seeking access to the unproven therapy.

    The panel of Food and Drug Administration experts voted 17-1 that drugmaker Brainstorm’s stem cell-based treatment has not been shown effective for patients with the fatal, muscle-wasting disease known as ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. One panel member abstained from voting.

    While the FDA is not bound by the vote, it largely aligns with the agency’s own strikingly negative review released earlier this week, in which staff scientists described Brainstorm’s application as “scientifically incomplete” and “grossly deficient.”

    What were the FDA panel’s objections to the treatment?

    “Creating false hope can be considered a moral injury and the use of statistical magic or manipulation to provide false hope is problematic,” said Lisa Lee, a bioethics and research integrity expert from Virginia Tech, who voted against the treatment. The lone positive vote came from a panel member representing patients.

    Wednesday’s public meeting was essentially a longshot attempt by Brainstorm and the ALS community to sway FDA’s thinking on the treatment, dubbed NurOwn.

    Brainstorm’s single 200-patient study failed to show that NurOwn extended life, slowed disease or improved patient mobility. But FDA agreed to convene the panel of outside advisers after ALS patients and advocates submitted a 30,000-signature petition seeking a public meeting.

    In the last year, the FDA has approved two new drugs for ALS, after a nearly 20-year drought of new options. The approvals followed intense lobbying by advocacy groups.

    FDA leaders have recently emphasized a new level of “regulatory flexibility” when reviewing experimental treatments for fatal, hard-to-treat conditions, including ALS, Alzheimer’s and muscular dystrophy.

    But the agency appears unwilling to overlook the failed study results and missing information in Brainstorm’s submission, including key details on manufacturing and quality control needed to establish the product’s safety.

    “It really is a disease that needs a safe and effective treatment and there are a lot of other prospects out there that we need to encourage. Approving one like this would get in the way of that,” said Dr. Kenneth Fischbeck of the National Institutes of Health.

    What do ALS patients say about the treatment?

    More than a dozen people spoke during a public comment session Wednesday, including ALS patients, their family members and physicians who implored FDA to grant approval. Several speakers presented before-and-after videos showing patients who participated in Brainstorm’s study walking, climbing stairs and performing other tasks that they attributed to NurOwn.

    “When Matt is on Nurown it helps him, when he’s off of it he gets worse,” said Mitze Klingenberg, speaking on behalf of her son, Matt Klingenberg, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2018.

    The FDA is expected to issue a decision on the therapy by Dec. 8.

    Israel-based Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics’ stock price has lost more than 90% of its value over the last year, falling to 39 cents per share before being halted ahead of Wednesday’s FDA meeting.

    What is ALS?

    ALS destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord needed to walk, talk, swallow and — eventually — breathe. Most people die within three to five years of their first symptoms.  

    “ALS may be considered a rare disease, but it’s actually more common than people think, affecting 1 in 300 Americans. It can strike anyone at any time and is always fatal,” Brian Frederick, senior vice president of communication at the ALS Association, told CBS News.

    More than 30,000 people in the United States are believed to be living with ALS, and an average of 5,000 people nationwide are diagnosed with ALS each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It is also known as Lou Gehrig‘s disease, named for the legendary New York Yankees player who was stricken with it in the late 1930s. 

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  • How artificial intelligence is helping ALS patients preserve their voices

    How artificial intelligence is helping ALS patients preserve their voices

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    New York City — Brian Jeansonne talks to the world about his journey with ALS through TikTok videos, which the 46-year-old makes with his family and caregivers.

    He began recording them when he was still able to speak on his own.

    “I’m married for almost 18 years, have five kids,” Jeansonne said in one such video. 

    “But nothing that has been taken away makes me as sad as losing my ability to speak,” he said in another. 

    However, with the help of artificial intelligence, Jeansonne has been able to keep his ability to speak through a process called voice preservation.

    “Imagine having no way to communicate your wants or needs or your love,” Jeansonne told CBS News. “Voice preservation gives that back to us. This, in many ways, saved my life.”  

    CBS News first covered the technology of voice preservation in 2016. At the time, ALS patients at Boston Children’s Hospital recorded their voices to play back when they lost their ability to speak. Since then, the technology has only improved, thanks to AI.

    “It’s allowing people to have to record fewer messages,” said John Costello, director of the Augmentative Communication Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. “The quality is far superior to what we were able to do in the early days.”

    ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing patients to lose their ability to move and speak. An average of 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Jeansonne and his wife, Kristy, spoke to CBS News through Zoom, which allowed Brian to receive some of the questions in advance, since he has to type out his responses in real time.

    The camera on his device tracks his eye movements, allowing them to function like a cursor.

    “I am amazed by it,” Jeansonne said of the technology. “That fact that I can sound kind of like me is a true gift to me and my family.”

    “To me, he’s there,” Kristy Jeansonne added. “His voice is there. It’s just totally life changing.”

    Voice preservation can cost more than $1,000, but there are nonprofits that can help pay for it.

    On their 20th anniversary, Brian used the technology to repeat his wedding vows to Kristy, continuing to communicate his love for her and for life. 

    Jon LaPook


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    Dr. Jonathan LaPook is the chief medical correspondent for CBS News.

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  • Roberta Flack Has ALS, Can No Longer Sing

    Roberta Flack Has ALS, Can No Longer Sing

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    By Robin Foster and Cara Murez 

    HealthDay Reporters

    TUESDAY, Nov. 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Singer Roberta Flack has the incurable disease ALS and can’t sing, but she plans to stay active on other projects, her manager said Monday.

    Flack, 85, is a Grammy winner best known for hits that include “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”

    Born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia, Flack became a star when Clint Eastwood used one of her songs in his 1971 movie “Play Misty for Me,” the Associated Press reported.

    Her ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, “has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak,” manager Suzanne Koga said in a statement to the AP. “But it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.”

    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disease that damages brain cells that control voluntary muscle movements such as chewing, talking and walking. There is no effective treatment to halt or reverse progression of the disease.

    Flack’s ongoing projects include the documentary “Roberta,” debuting later this week at a New York City film festival. The movie, directed by Antonino D’Ambrosio, will also air on Jan. 24 on PBS, the AP reported.

    She also plans to publish a children’s book co-written with Tonya Bolden, the AP reported. “The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music,” will be published in January.

    “I have long dreamed of telling my story to children about that first green piano that my father got for me from the junkyard in the hope that they would be inspired to reach for their dreams,” Flack was quoted as saying in the release. “I want them to know that dreams can come true with persistence, encouragement from family and friends, and most of all belief in yourself.”

    Flack is a classically trained musician who won a full ride to Howard University at age 15. Her parents were pianists.

    The 50th anniversary of her fourth album, “Killing Me Softly,” in 2023 will include a reissue, the AP reported.

    Flack also “plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits” through her foundation, Koga said.

    More information

    The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on ALS.

     

     

    SOURCE: Associated Press
     

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  • Singer Roberta Flack has ALS and can no longer sing, rep confirms

    Singer Roberta Flack has ALS and can no longer sing, rep confirms

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    A representative for Roberta Flack announced Monday that the Grammy-winning musician has ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and can no longer sing.

    The progressive disease “has made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak,” Flack’s manager Suzanne Koga said in a release. “But it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.”

    The announcement of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis comes just ahead of the premiere of “Roberta,” a feature-length documentary debuting Thursday at the DOCNYC film festival.

    Flack is known for hits like “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face,” the latter of which catapulted her into stardom after Clint Eastwood used it as the soundtrack for a love scene in his 1971 movie “Play Misty for Me.”

    The release says that the Grammy-winning singer and pianist, now 85, “plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits” through her eponymous foundation and other avenues.

    The Antonino D’Ambrosio-directed documentary will be in competition at the festival and available via DOCNYC’s website for a week after, before airing on television Jan. 24 as part of PBS’ “American Masters” series.

    Flack also plans to publish a children’s book co-written with Tonya Bolden, “The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music,” that month. The North Carolina-born, Virginia-raised Flack is the daughter of pianists and classically trained herself — her talent won her a full ride to Howard University at just 15.

    “I have long dreamed of telling my story to children about that first green piano that my father got for me from the junkyard in the hope that they would be inspired to reach for their dreams,” Flack was quoted in the release. “I want them to know that dreams can come true with persistence, encouragement from family and friends, and most of all belief in yourself.”

    The documentary’s television debut and book’s publication kick off 2023, which also will see the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of her fourth album, “Killing Me Softly,” with a reissue. Her label for the first three decades of her career, Atlantic Records, is also celebrating its 75th anniversary.

    Flack had a stroke in 2016 and spoke to The Associated Press a little over two years later about returning to performing. When asked if she’d sing one of her old hits at a then-upcoming event, she quickly retorted: “There’s no such thing as an old hit,” preferring the term “classic” instead.

    “I could sing any number of songs that I’ve recorded through the years, easily, I could sing them, but I’m going to pick those songs that move me,” Flack said. “Now that’s hard to do. To be moved, to be moved constantly by your own songs.”

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