TL;DR
Christina Applegate said on her podcast that a doctor told her the multiple sclerosis diagnosis she announced in 2021 was incorrect. She says she continues to experience symptoms and needs a wheelchair for some medical visits; the reason for the revised assessment and her current diagnosis are not yet clear.
Actor Christina Applegate said a doctor told her that her multiple sclerosis diagnosis was incorrect, a change she described on her podcast as leaving her unsure what is causing her symptoms. Applegate, who first publicly announced an MS diagnosis in 2021, said she still has symptoms she associates with the disease and uses a wheelchair to get from her car to medical appointments.
Get health and wellness essentials delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Applegate discussed the revised assessment on “MeSsy,” the podcast she co-hosts with actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who has MS. “I’m back at square one where I don’t know what’s going on with me,” Applegate said. She also said she continues to have “every symptom of someone with MS.” Her comments describe her experience; the report does not identify the doctor, explain what evidence led to the reassessment, or state whether another condition has been diagnosed.
Applegate said the uncertainty has been difficult in part because she and Sigler have become visible advocates for people with MS. “It’s weird because I feel like I let everybody down,” she said, adding that the situation was “very unnerving” and confusing. The comments do not establish that her symptoms have stopped or that she has received a replacement diagnosis.
MedPage Today’s report included comments from neurologist Marisa McGinley of the Cleveland Clinic and Bruce Bebo, chief research and medical affairs officer at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They described MS diagnosis as a process that combines symptoms, imaging and other clinical information, rather than a conclusion based on one test alone. Their remarks provide general medical context and do not assess Applegate’s individual case.
Why Diagnostic Accuracy Matters
Applegate’s account draws attention to the practical consequences of an unsettled diagnosis: a person may continue to face significant symptoms while clinicians reconsider what is causing them. In MS, McGinley told MedPage Today, there is no single test that establishes the diagnosis; clinicians weigh multiple findings and assess other possible explanations. A change in diagnosis can therefore leave patients and families without an immediate answer, even when symptoms remain disruptive.
There is also a balance between reaching a diagnosis early enough to provide appropriate care and avoiding a diagnosis that later proves incorrect. Bebo said clinicians aim to diagnose MS as early as possible because disease-modifying therapies can benefit people with the relapsing-remitting inflammatory form. He also stressed that speed should not come at the expense of accuracy. Applegate’s remarks illustrate that tension, but they do not show what process her own doctors are following or what treatment decisions have been made.
Products Worth Considering
Fitbit Charge 5 Health and Fitness Tracker with Built-In GPS, Stress Management, Sleep Tracking, and 24/7 Heart Rate Monitoring
Oral-B iO5 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush with 5 Cleaning Modes and Travel Case, White
BowFlex Results Series SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells, Pair
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How MS Diagnoses Are Reached
MS is diagnosed by bringing together evidence from a person’s symptoms, examination and tests, including MRI findings. McGinley described the process as a complex clinical algorithm that involves considering other conditions. Bebo compared it to assembling a puzzle: symptoms associated with MS can occur in other illnesses, and abnormalities on an MRI do not automatically mean a person has MS.
The diagnostic criteria have changed as medical understanding and imaging have advanced. MedPage Today reported that the McDonald criteria were updated in 2024 and that an MRI showing lesions typical of MS is required under the current criteria described in the report. In some situations, markers such as the central vein sign or paramagnetic rim lesions can help improve diagnostic specificity. These general criteria do not, on their own, explain the decision in Applegate’s case.
Experts quoted by MedPage Today cautioned against treating estimates of MS misdiagnosis as settled. McGinley said studies report rates ranging from under 10% to close to 20%. Bebo said those figures vary and may be influenced by studies conducted at specialty centers, which receive difficult-to-diagnose referrals. The report offers no single estimate as definitive.
““There’s no single test that equals an MS diagnosis.””
— Marisa McGinley, Cleveland Clinic neurologist, to MedPage Today
What Applegate Has Not Explained
The report does not say when the doctor revised the diagnosis, what tests or clinical findings informed that decision, or whether Applegate has been given another diagnosis. It is also unclear whether she is seeking additional opinions or undergoing further testing. Applegate’s statements establish that she reports ongoing symptoms and a changed assessment, not the cause of those symptoms.
The general misdiagnosis estimates cited by experts are also uncertain: the figures vary across studies, and Bebo cautioned that findings from specialty-center referrals may not represent all patients. No information in the report establishes how common a similar diagnostic change is for people in Applegate’s circumstances.
Further Evaluation And Answers
Applegate said she remains unsure what is causing her symptoms, but the report did not provide a timetable for further testing, another medical opinion or a public update. The next developments to watch for are any account from Applegate about additional evaluation and any information she chooses to share about a diagnosis or care plan.
Until then, the confirmed public information is limited to her podcast comments and the general context supplied by the medical experts interviewed by MedPage Today. Her individual medical records and the reasoning behind the doctor’s assessment have not been made public.
Key Questions
What did Christina Applegate say about her MS diagnosis?
She said on the podcast “MeSsy” that a doctor told her the diagnosis was incorrect. She described herself as being unsure what is causing her symptoms.
Does Applegate still report symptoms?
Yes. Applegate said she still has symptoms she associates with MS and uses a wheelchair to get from her car to medical appointments. Those are her reported experiences; the source does not provide an independent medical assessment.
Has Applegate said what condition she has instead?
No replacement diagnosis was identified in the report. It also does not explain what led the doctor to revise the earlier assessment.
How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
Neurologists cited by MedPage Today said MS diagnosis relies on multiple pieces of evidence, including symptoms and MRI findings, and requires consideration of other possible causes. They said no single test by itself establishes an MS diagnosis.
Source: rss
