Former Massachusetts governor and U.S. ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.Former Massachusetts governor and U.S. ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Former Massachusetts governor and U.S. ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci has been diagnosed with a “slow case” of Lou Gehrig’s disease, the Boston Globe reported Thursday.

Cellucci, who served as ambassador to Canada from 2001 to 2005, said in a statement published by the Globe that he was under the care of Dr. Robert H. Brown Jr., chairman of neurology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center.

The Globe reported that Cellucci had some symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, for four years and had "some weaknesses."

Cellucci's statement went on to say: "I maintain a full and varied work schedule, love playing with my three grandchildren and attending my son-in-law's NHL games, regularly complete six miles on an exercise bike, and enjoy the movies and dining out with friends."

He said he was leading a "normal private life."