# Christina Applegate's MS diagnosis was wrong

> The actor's misdiagnosis reveals a widespread problem: about 15 percent of MS diagnoses may be false positives, and doctors still don't know why.
- Title: Christina Applegate's MS diagnosis was wrong · Vox | Shortify
- Summary: The actor's misdiagnosis reveals a widespread problem: about 15 percent of MS diagnoses may be false positives, and doctors still don't know why. Christina…
- Keywords: christina applegate, multiple sclerosis, misdiagnosis, medical diagnosis, autoimmune disease, news, culture, Christina, Applegate's, diagnosis, wrong, Vox
- Source: Vox — https://vox.com/health/507167/ms-disease-symptoms-diagnosis-christina-applegate
- Author: Dylan Scott
- Published: 2026-10-21T19:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: christina applegate, multiple sclerosis, misdiagnosis, medical diagnosis, autoimmune disease, news, culture
## Applegate's diagnosis was wrong
Christina Applegate revealed this week she does not have MS after all, despite her 2021 diagnosis. Her doctors still don't know what is causing her debilitating symptoms.

> I'm back at square one.
## Misdiagnosis is surprisingly common
Applegate's experience is not unique. According to one meta-analysis, roughly fifteen percent of MS diagnoses may actually be false positives among the roughly one million Americans living with the disease.
## What MS actually is
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition where the body mistakenly attacks cells protecting the brain and spinal cord. This damage interrupts nerve signals and causes motor impairment, tingling sensations, and vision problems.
## Doctors don't know what causes MS
Scientists still don't really know what causes MS to develop, said Dr.Andrew Solomon, a neurologist at the University of Vermont who specializes in MS.

> We don't really know what causes or triggers the autoimmune response in any given individual.
## Testing for MS is imprecise
There is not a single test that reliably diagnoses MS. Doctors usually order an MRI to look for lesions, but scans are subject to interpretation. Other rare conditions sometimes resemble MS in imaging.
## Early symptoms are vague
MS symptoms can often be vague early on: brain fog, fatigue, or general malaise.Tingling or vision problems can resemble other conditions and are easily dismissed if they go into temporary remission, as often happens initially.
## Symptoms fade before diagnosis
Neurological symptoms can be short-lived, said Dr.Saud Sadiq, chief research scientist at the Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York.

> Unless they're taken seriously initially, they may be ignored because by the time the patient goes through the healthcare system and is actually referred to a neurologist, the symptoms have abated.
## Forty percent initially misdiagnosed
A two thousand twenty-five study by Dr. Solomon and colleagues found that forty percent of people later diagnosed with MS were initially misdiagnosed with a different disease, showing how heterogeneous the condition is.
## Pressure to diagnose quickly
When people experience debilitating symptoms, there is pressure to deliver some diagnosis.This may push doctors to leap to MS even if unsure.Recent effective treatments may add pressure to diagnose early, even without meeting diagnostic criteria.

> There may be a lot of clinicians who, if they can't find a better explanation than MS, may be inclined to diagnose MS, even if they don't really meet our diagnostic criteria, because they're worried about missing a window of opportunity to treat somebody.
## New criteria and AI offer hope
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society released new diagnostic criteria in two thousand twenty-four to better distinguish MS from problems like migraines or vascular disease.
## When to seek care for symptoms
Seek care if you have numbness or pins and needles lasting more than twenty-four to forty-eight hours, motor problems, numbness in abdomen or chest, or blurred vision in one eye.
## Get expert MRI review
Make sure your MRI images are reviewed by an expert in MS. Dr. Annette Langer-Gould said the most common reasons the disease is misdiagnosed are related to providers' lack of expertise in reading MRI scans.

> The most common reasons the disease is still misdiagnosed are related to the providers' lack of expertise usually in reading MRI scans.
## Get a spinal tap and second opinion
A spinal fluid analysis adds confidence to diagnosis. Don't be afraid to seek a second opinion for such a serious diagnosis. Ask your doctor directly: What's the evidence? Every state has a recognized MS center.

> Listen, just get the spinal. This way we'll be sure.
## Key takeaway

Christina Applegate revealed her MS diagnosis was wrong, highlighting that roughly fifteen percent of MS diagnoses may be false positives due to imprecise testing and vague early symptoms.