Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed and does not have multiple sclerosis

Summary

Actor Christina Applegate has said she was misdiagnosed and does not have multiple sclerosis, the disease she was diagnosed with in 2021. She revealed this on an episode of her podcast MeSsy, recorded with fellow actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler and posted to YouTube on Tuesday. Applegate, 54, had become a prominent MS awareness advocate and described her struggles in an emotional memoir published in March. She called the news 'unnerving' and 'really confusing' and said she is back at square one. The BBC reports she was not happy about the new information and said her symptoms have only 'gotten worse'. Scientific American reports that experts say such a misdiagnosis is a surprisingly common experience.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   20 Oct 2026, 13:51 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Applegate revealed on her MeSsy podcast, posted to YouTube on Tuesday, that she does not have multiple sclerosis after all, calling the news 'unnerving' and 'really confusing'.

2. Hindustan Times

   20 Oct 2026, 14:40 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that Applegate says doctors have told her she does not have multiple sclerosis, the diagnosis she received in 2021, and that she is back at square one.

3. BBC

   20 Oct 2026, 19:22 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that Applegate said in a Tuesday release of her MeSsy podcast that she was wrongly diagnosed with MS, was not happy about the new information, and that her symptoms have only 'gotten worse'.

4. Scientific American

   20 Oct 2026, 20:45 UTCSource ↗

   Scientific American reports that Applegate revealed her 2021 multiple sclerosis diagnosis was incorrect, and that experts say such a misdiagnosis is a surprisingly common experience.

5. The New York Times

   20 Oct 2026, 22:07 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that Applegate, who was given a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2021, was told by a doctor that she does not have the disease after all.

6. ABC

   21 Oct 2026, 00:48 UTCSource ↗

   ABC reports that Applegate, known for Anchorman and Married With Children, says she was misdiagnosed with MS and is back at square one with the debilitating symptoms she suffers.

7. South China Morning Post

   21 Oct 2026, 01:29 UTCSource ↗

   The South China Morning Post reports that Applegate said on the latest episode of her podcast MeSsy, co-hosted with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, that her doctor says she does not have MS, and that she is 'back at square one'.