Jenny Slatten reveals ALS diagnosis, symptoms began in December 2024

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• Understanding the Disease: How ALS Develops and Progresses
• Jenny’s Symptom Timeline: A Year-Long Medical Investigation
• The Path to Diagnosis: Multiple Specialists and Genetic Insights
• Clinical Data: ALS Disease Progression and Life Expectancy
• The Emotional and Relationship Impact: Love as Catalyst for Strength
• What’s Next: Treatment Pathways and Research Participation
  • Sources

Jenny Slatten, the beloved 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way star, has revealed she received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease — in December 2025, following an initial symptom that emerged one year earlier in December 2024. The 68-year-old reality television personality disclosed the life-altering diagnosis in an exclusive interview with People magazine published May 19, 2026, bringing her medical journey into public view as she navigates treatment options alongside her husband Sumit Singh.

Understanding the Disease: How ALS Develops and Progresses

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The condition gradually destroys motor neurons responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. As Mayo Clinic documents, the disease leads to progressive muscle weakness, diminished mobility, and eventually speech impairment. ALS affects approximately 5,000 Americans annually, with most patients diagnosed between ages 40 and 70. The disease typically manifests in two primary forms: spinal onset ALS (affecting limb strength) and bulbar onset ALS (affecting speech and swallowing), which appears to match Jenny’s presentation.

What makes ALS particularly challenging is that no single definitive test diagnoses the condition. Doctors must rule out other neurological diseases through electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, MRI imaging, and clinical observation. Jenny’s journey reflects this diagnostic complexity—initial evaluations suggested a “clot” in her brain before neurologists confirmed the ALS diagnosis following a second opinion.

Jenny’s Symptom Timeline: A Year-Long Medical Investigation

December 2024 marked the beginning of Jenny’s health challenges when she experienced a severe choking episode while simply drinking water. This initial symptom is consistent with bulbar-onset ALS, which affects the muscles controlling swallowing and speech. Following the choking incident, migraines emerged, along with difficulty swallowing medications—both common early indicators of neurological decline.

The couple initially misinterpreted the symptoms as an infection, and brief medication provided temporary improvement. However, by late 2025, more concerning signs surfaced: Jenny’s speech began to slow noticeably, she avoided conversations, and often refused to speak entirely. According to Sumit’s account to People, “That’s when we knew something was wrong.” This speech deterioration became particularly evident during a December 2025 90 Day Fiancé holiday party appearance in New York City, where fans observed and expressed concern about her slower speech pattern online. A social media commenter’s suggestion that Jenny might have ALS prompted Sumit to research the disease, where he recognized the symptom overlap with his wife’s condition.

The Path to Diagnosis: Multiple Specialists and Genetic Insights

Upon returning to India from the New York holiday event, Jenny and Sumit consulted with multiple neurologists to pursue an official diagnosis. Initial assessments proved inconclusive, with doctors initially attributing symptoms to a cerebral condition. However, a second neurological opinion provided the definitive diagnosis: ALS. Jenny recalled the moment to People: “We cried and held each other.” The diagnosis carried particular weight when the couple remembered that Jenny’s father had died of ALS more than a decade ago, suggesting potential genetic predisposition—a significant factor in approximately 10% of ALS cases.

Currently, Jenny is pursuing genetic testing to determine if she carries an ALS-associated gene mutation. This investigation is critical because specific mutations qualify patients for medications that can potentially slow disease progression. She has also joined online ALS communities to stay informed about emerging treatments and clinical research, recognizing that the medical landscape for ALS continues to evolve. According to Sumit, doctors indicated that Jenny’s disease progression is “slow,” which provides some optimism for maintaining quality of life during treatment exploration.

Clinical Data: ALS Disease Progression and Life Expectancy

Disease Characteristic	Clinical Information
Average Time to Diagnosis	12-18 months from symptom onset (Jenny: ~12 months)
Median Survival Post-Diagnosis	2-5 years for most patients (estimates vary by onset type)
Bulbar-Onset (Speech/Swallow)	Generally progresses faster than spinal-onset ALS
Available Treatments	Riluzole, edaravone; experimental gene therapies under investigation
Genetic ALS Cases	~10% of ALS diagnosed; may indicate familial predisposition (Jenny’s case)
Respiratory Complications	Common in advanced stages; ventilation support may be necessary

The data underscores why “slow progression” is significant good news for Jenny. Patients with slower advancement have additional time to explore experimental treatments, participate in clinical trials, and maintain physical function. Additionally, genetic testing results could unlock access to targeted therapies not available to non-genetic ALS patients, potentially changing her treatment trajectory.

“We’re doing what we can. Right now we’re just looking and searching. I don’t want to be treated any different. Let’s just live our life as we have been while we can.”

— Jenny Slatten, to People Magazine, May 19, 2026

The Emotional and Relationship Impact: Love as Catalyst for Strength

Throughout this diagnosis, Jenny’s relationship with husband Sumit Singh has become her primary support system. The couple, who married after appearing together on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way since 2019, have navigated significant cultural and familial challenges together. Their 30-year age gap (with Jenny at 68 and Sumit at 38) has drawn considerable public scrutiny, yet both emphasize that shared adversity has deepened their bond rather than fracturing it. When asked about facing the diagnosis together, Sumit expressed gratitude for the capacity to give to someone he loves: “From the last so many years, I feel like doing things for someone who you love gives you happiness. That’s what love is.” Both assert they remain “happy that we’re together” as they navigate this new chapter. The couple plans to continue living in India while pursuing treatment options and maintaining their television presence—they will appear on 90 Day: The Last Resort Season 3, which premieres on June 1, 2026 on TLC.

What’s Next: Treatment Pathways and Research Participation

While no cure for ALS currently exists, the medical and research communities continue advancing treatment options. Jenny’s exploration of genetic testing positions her potentially to qualify for medications that slow progression. She is also investigating clinical trial participation, as ongoing research explores novel therapeutic approaches. Her engagement with ALS support communities online reflects a proactive strategy to stay informed about emerging treatments and connect with others navigating the same diagnosis. According to her own words to People, she hopes that “maybe somebody will come forward with something” that could help her condition. This optimistic outlook—combined with doctors’ assessment of slow progression—creates space for hope alongside realistic acknowledgment of the disease’s serious nature.

Sources

• People Magazine — Jenny Slatten exclusive interview published May 19, 2026; comprehensive details on diagnosis timeline, symptoms, and emotional journey
• Mayo Clinic — Clinical definitions and diagnostic criteria for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including disease mechanism and progression patterns
• Cleveland Clinic — ALS symptoms documentation and clinical manifestations of bulbar-onset versus spinal-onset disease
• ALS Association — Epidemiological data, disease progression statistics, and available treatment information
• 90 Day Fiancé official sources (TLC) — Confirmation of Jenny’s television career and upcoming appearance on 90 Day: The Last Resort Season 3