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Christina Applegate's MS misdiagnosis prompts questions about how often it happens

Christina Applegate said on her podcast that she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and PBS NewsHour reports the disclosure has raised questions about how often people are wrongly told they have MS.

Posted Updated (11 d ago)

Actor Christina Applegate's announcement that she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis has raised questions about how often people are told they have MS when they don't, PBS NewsHour reported on Thursday. PBS discussed why MS is hard to diagnose with Dr. Michael Kornberg of Johns Hopkins University.

Applegate made the announcement on Tuesday in an episode of her podcast, called MeSsy or Messy depending on the outlet, recorded with actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler. The Guardian says it was posted to YouTube. The New York Times and CBS News report she was diagnosed in 2021. NBC News says she believed she had MS for five years. The Times says a doctor told her she does not have it.

She said the news has not brought relief. BBC News reports she said her symptoms have "gotten worse." The Hill reports she said she is "back at square one." The Guardian and NBC News report she called the news "unnerving" and "confusing." Fox News reports she fought back tears and described confusion and depression.

CBS News reports that new technology revealed the misdiagnosis. The other reports do not say how it was found. The Guardian says Applegate is 54 and had been a prominent MS advocate. It also says she published a memoir in March about her struggles. CBS News says an estimated 25 million Americans live with a rare or undiagnosed illness.

Reported by

  1. CBS NewsChristina Applegate reveals she was misdiagnosed with MSTue, Oct 20, 9:03 AM EDT
  2. NBC NewsChristina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosisTue, Oct 20, 9:32 AM EDT
  3. The HillChristina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS: 'I haven't gotten better'Tue, Oct 20, 9:35 AM EDT
  4. The GuardianActor Christina Applegate reveals she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosisTue, Oct 20, 9:51 AM EDT
  5. ABC NewsChristina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MSTue, Oct 20, 10:12 AM EDT
  6. Fox NewsChristina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS and is now 'back at square one'Tue, Oct 20, 10:20 AM EDT
  7. BBC NewsChristina Applegate says she was wrongfully diagnosed with MSTue, Oct 20, 11:16 AM EDT
  8. CBS NewsChristina Applegate reveals she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosisTue, Oct 20, 11:53 AM EDT
  9. CBS NewsUp to 20% of MS diagnoses may be wrong, like Christina Applegate'sTue, Oct 20, 2:22 PM EDT
  10. PBS NewsHourChristina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed and does not have MSTue, Oct 20, 2:24 PM EDT
  11. The New York TimesChristina Applegate Says Her MS Was MisdiagnosedTue, Oct 20, 4:22 PM EDT
  12. CBS NewsDoctor on Christina Applegate's MS misdiagnosisTue, Oct 20, 6:43 PM EDT
  13. CBS NewsChristina Applegate says new technology revealed her MS misdiagnosisTue, Oct 20, 7:30 PM EDT
  14. CBS NewsDoctor explains how a misdiagnosis of multiple sclerosis happens amid Christina Applegate newsTue, Oct 20, 8:08 PM EDT
  15. NBC NewsChristina Applegate Says She Was Misdiagnosed With MSWed, Oct 21, 7:40 AM EDT
  16. CBS NewsChristina Applegate tearfully reveals multiple sclerosis misdiagnosisWed, Oct 21, 9:18 AM EDT
  17. PBS NewsHourChristina Applegate's experience highlights challenges of diagnosing MSThu, Oct 22, 6:35 PM EDT

This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.

Earlier versions (8)
  1. Tue, Oct 20, 8:15 PM EDT, 9 outlets: Christina Applegate says new technology showed she doesn't have MS
  2. Tue, Oct 20, 5:40 PM EDT, 9 outlets: Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS and still has symptoms
  3. Tue, Oct 20, 2:30 PM EDT, 8 outlets: Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS and still has symptoms
  4. Tue, Oct 20, 12:05 PM EDT, 7 outlets: Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS in 2021
  5. Tue, Oct 20, 10:30 AM EDT, 6 outlets: Christina Applegate says MS misdiagnosis brought confusion, depression, no relief
  6. Tue, Oct 20, 10:15 AM EDT, 4 outlets: Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS and is "back at square one"
  7. Tue, Oct 20, 9:55 AM EDT, 3 outlets: Christina Applegate says she does not have multiple sclerosis
  8. Tue, Oct 20, 9:40 AM EDT, 2 outlets: Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis