After five years, Christina Applegate reveals she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but symptoms persist

A review of the diagnosis

Applegate said her doctor wanted to stop her infusion treatment and see how her B cells responded. After treatment ended, their levels did not rise or fall, prompting a closer look at her diagnosis.

Her doctor eventually told her she had never had multiple sclerosis, Applegate said. She described the news as confusing and unnerving. At the time of her original diagnosis, she underwent tests including a spinal tap and MRIs. She said scans showed lesions on her brain.

What multiple sclerosis involves

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, occurs when the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms differ among people, and the disease has several types, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The condition has no known cause, and its progression cannot be predicted, the society says.

Symptoms continue to affect her

Applegate said she continues to experience debilitating symptoms that affect her daily life and mobility. During filming of Netflix’s “Dead To Me,” she used a wheelchair, and the script was changed to accommodate her symptoms.

In 2023, Applegate said her symptoms might lead her to stop acting on camera. She said Tuesday that she now has physical therapy three times a week.