Christina Applegate reveals she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis

Christina Applegate disclosed on her podcast "MeSsy" that she was recently told by her doctor she does not have multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition she believed she had since 2021, according to ABC News and CBS News.

Applegate said the news left her "back at square one" as she continues to experience debilitating symptoms and medical issues, reported NBC News. She described the revelation as difficult, noting that despite the misdiagnosis, her symptoms have not improved and in some ways have worsened.

The misdiagnosis was uncovered after her doctor stopped an infusion treatment to observe how her B cells reacted. The cell count remained unchanged, prompting further investigation that led to the conclusion she never had MS, CBS News reported.

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological and autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the central nervous system. There is no single test for MS, and misdiagnoses are fairly common, said a neurology expert on the podcast, according to CBS News.

Applegate had undergone various tests including MRIs and a spinal tap at the time of her initial diagnosis, which showed brain lesions. Despite the misdiagnosis, she continues to suffer symptoms that affect her daily life and mobility, as reported by ABC News and NBC News.

Applegate co-hosts the "MeSsy" podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who has publicly shared her own MS diagnosis. Applegate had taken a recent break from the podcast to process the new information about her health, CBS News noted.