Christina Applegate Reveals She Was Misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

Actress Christina Applegate announced that she never had multiple sclerosis, a condition she believed she was living with for five years. The 54-year-old shared the unexpected news during a two-part episode of her podcast, MeSsy, which she co-hosts with actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

Applegate was originally diagnosed with MS in August 2021 while filming the final season of the Netflix series Dead to Me. Following spinal taps and MRI scans that revealed lesions on her brain, she became one of the world's most visible public advocates for the condition, frequently speaking about the physical toll and stepping away from on-camera acting.

However, a routine pause in her infusion treatment to check her B-cell response prompted her neurologist to take a closer look at the original findings. Utilizing new medical technology, doctors reevaluated her scans, leading to the revelation that her initial diagnosis was incorrect.

Unlike most people who might celebrate receiving news that they do not have a chronic illness, Applegate described feeling deeply depressed and lost. She noted that her debilitating physical symptoms have not improved and that she is now without a diagnosis, leaving her back at square one.

"You don't get misdiagnosed and then all of the sudden I'm better," Applegate stated on the podcast, explaining that her physical struggles have actually worsened. She added that losing the diagnosis also felt like losing her community and her role as an advocate alongside Sigler.

Medical experts note that misdiagnoses of multiple sclerosis are more common than many realize. Specialists from major academic centers indicate that nearly one in five patients referred to specialty clinics with an MS diagnosis are ultimately found to have other conditions, such as migraines, fibromyalgia, or spinal disorders, often due to the lack of a single definitive test and the misinterpretation of brain lesions on MRIs.

Applegate stated that her medical team will begin a formal investigation to determine the actual cause of the severe symptoms she has experienced since 2021. Meanwhile, she continues to navigate the emotional adjustment of losing a diagnosis that defined her life and career for half a decade.