1 in 5 MS diagnoses are wrong, and Christina Applegate is proof
1 in 5 MS diagnoses are wrong, and Christina Applegate is proof
Niti MajethiaWed, October 21, 2026 at 5:32 PM UTC
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Christina Applegate recently shocked fans by revealing that she had been misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited (Reach Publishing Services Limited)
Christina Applegate recently shocked fans by revealing that she had been misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis. On her podcast, MeSsy, she tearfully admitted that she was "back at square one."
She revealed, "It's hard to say that [my doctor] came into my room and she said, 'Congratulations, you don't have MS.'" The 54-year-old actress explained her distress over the news. "You don't get misdiagnosed and then all of a sudden I'm better. I haven't gotten better...If anything, I've gotten worse in some ways," the Anchorman star added.
Multiple sclerosis is a condition that damages the protective layer surrounding nerves, according to Mayo Clinic. The disease can cause numbness, weakness, difficulty walking, vision problems, amid other symptoms. The condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and studies show that roughly 15% to 20% of people diagnosed with MS actually have a different condition. This comes after Christina Applegate was hospitalized after her devastating MS admission.
• Christina Applegate seen leaving hospital after almost four month stay amid MS battle
• Christina Applegate hospitalized after devastating MS admission
Dr. Kevin Gaffney, neurologist with Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Associates in The Woodlands, tells The Mirror US that whenever he sees a patient with an MS diagnosis, his first thought is to question if the patient actually has MS.
"Multiple sclerosis falls under the category of Demyelinating Diseases, which encompasses anything that causes damage to the white matter of the brain," he explained. "This can include MS, neuromyelitis optica, MOG, Sjögren’s disease, sarcoidosis, other autoimmune diseases, vasculitis, mini-strokes, and more."
The actress has long advocated for MS survivors -Credit:Getty Images
The expert added that the only way to accurately diagnose the condition is to "watch it over time" because the medical professional needs to "prove that the disease is active and ongoing."
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What adds to the difficulty in nailing down a diagnosis is how differently the disease manifests itself in different people.
While Christina Applegate being vocal about her challenges will increase awareness, the expert reiterates that her experience being misdiagnosed with MS may also cause "more confusion and distrust."
Meanwhile, Dr. Steven Chance tells The Mirror US that MS can be tricky to diagnose because "there is no standard test that is used to identify it" and because many of its symptoms overlap with dozens of other neurological disorders.
The condition can often be mistaken for lupus, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (a condition that similarly affects nerves in the eyes and spinal cord), and less serious conditions such as chronic migraines or vitamin B12 deficiency.
Christina co-created the MeSsy podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler to raise awareness about the condition -Credit:AFP via Getty Images
"Our view is that better diagnosis depends on bringing clinical expertise together with stronger biological evidence," Chance said. "Research into subtle tissue changes could help build that evidence."
Applegate has long advocated for MS patients, and even co-created the MeSsy podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler to raise awareness about the condition.
"I have every symptom of someone with MS. Every single one," she shared. "Now, we both know that there are many things that mirror MS - many different things."
The actress confessed that she felt like she "let everybody down" after championing the MS community so passionately—only to learn that she never had it—and that she still remains in a "state of shock."
"It's a mindf----, for sure," she said.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
