What is ALS? Kenneth Mitchell, Star Trek: Discovery and Captain Marvel star dead at 49 from the neurological disease

Kenneth Mitchell died five years after being diagnosed with ALS. He was 49.

Mitchell, best known for his roles in Star Trek: Discovery, died on Saturday, according to a family statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend,” read the post, which was also shared on Instagram.

“Ken was widely known as an actor in many films and television shows. He’s portrayed an Olympic hopeful, an apocalypse survivor, an astronaut, a superhero’s dad, and four unique Star Trekkers,” the statement continued.

Mitchell, who was born on November 25, 1974 in Toronto, Canada, was the father of two children, Lilah and Kallum, whom he shared with his wife Susan, and was described, among many other qualities and roles he played in people’s lives, as “Susan’s partner and, more than anything else, a proud father.”

“Ken was diligent and hardworking in everything he did, but as a father, these traits found their fullest expression. He was extremely dedicated to being a positive and playful force in the lives of his children. Regardless of his later disabilities, Ken discovered a higher calling to be more fully himself for his kids. Ken will be forever proud of who his children have become,” his family wrote.

Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS in 2018 and started using a wheelchair the next year. He revealed his diagnosis to PEOPLE in 2020.

His family described his disease experience as follows: “For five and a half years, Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS. And in true Ken fashion, he managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment to living a full and joyous life in each moment.”

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes a loss of muscle control. The disease worsens over time.

ALS is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it. The exact cause of the disease is still unknown. A small proportion of cases are inherited.

Muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, as well as difficulty swallowing or slurred speech, are common early signs of ALS. It eventually impairs control of the muscles required to move, speak, eat, and breathe. There is no cure for this deadly disease.

What are the symptoms of ALS?

The symptoms of ALS vary from person to person. Symptoms vary depending on which nerve cells are affected. ALS typically begins with muscle weakness, which spreads and worsens over time. Symptoms may include:

• Difficulty walking or performing daily activities.
• Weakness in the legs, feet, and ankles.
• Hand weakness or clumsiness.
• Slurred speech or difficulty swallowing.
• Weakness due to muscle cramps and twitching in the arms, shoulders, and tongue.
• Unexpected crying, laughter, or yawning.
• Mental or behavioral changes.

ALS typically begins in the hands, feet, arms, or legs. Then it spreads to other areas of the body. Muscles become weaker as more nerve cells die. This eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking, and breathing.

There is typically no pain in the early stages of ALS. Pain is uncommon in the later stages. ALS is rarely associated with bladder control issues. It also usually does not affect the senses, such as taste, smell, touch, or hearing.