Christina Applegate Discloses She Has Multiple Sclerosis

Aug 10, 2021

Christina Applegate has been acting her whole life, ever since she got her start at the tender age of 1 when she made her television debut in 1972 alongside her mother in the soap opera "Days of Our Lives." She went on to star in commercials before she made her film debut in the 1981 horror film "Jaws of Satan." As a child star, Applegate continued to find more work herself and really found her footing in the acting industry. 

Then in 1987, she landed the role that put her on the map — the rising star officially hit her breakthrough in the FOX sitcom "Married… with Children." The show followed the lives of the Bundy family, who lived in a suburban neighborhood in Chicago. Ever since her turn on the hit sitcom, she's stayed in the spotlight, appearing in major comedies such as "Anchorman" and "Bad Moms," as well as hit shows like "Friends," "Dead to Me" and more. 

On top of the hugely successful career that she's built in Hollywood, Applegate also overcame many obstacles in her personal life including a battle with breast cancer in the '00s, which she thankfully beat.

This makes it all the more heartbreaking to learn that the star has just revealed that she has Multiple Sclerosis. Posting to her Twitter, the actress was open and honest with her fans, explaining that she was diagnosed a few months earlier. She also made reference to constantly moving forward, despite what life throws at us, before finally asking for privacy at this time.

Announcing her diagnosis via her Twitter, Christina Applegate posted today:

"Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition."

It's unclear whether any of the people who have supported her are in the public eye, but actress Selma Blair revealed her own MS diagnosis in 2018. Applegate continued in her tweet:

"It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some [expletive] blocks it."

Known for her comedic performances, it's in line with her career for Applegate to make a joke despite the serious topic she's talking about. She also wrote a second tweet that stated:

"As one of my friends that has MS said 'we wake up and take the indicated action.' And that’s what I do. So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing. Thank you xo"

This is certainly a difficult thing to go through for anyone, and for someone as resilient as Applegate, who has in the past been through the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer, this may even be extra challenging. 

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system. According to the National MS Society, an abnormal response of the immune system causes inflammation that damages myelin, which is the fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers in the body, as well as the nerve fibers themselves, and the specialized cells that make myelin. This leads to damage in the way that the central nervous system works. 

The severity of multiple sclerosis varies from person to person and the type of MS they have. According to the National MS Society, there are four different types of MS that will define how much the disease will affect the person and how fast they may deteriorate. There is no known cause for the disease, "but it is believed to involve genetic susceptibility, abnormalities in the immune system and environmental factors that combine to trigger the disease." 

BBC News reported that in 2008, Applegate underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. CNN reported that Applegate is the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, and due to that, she had been vigilant about getting regular mammograms since she turned 30.

After she was diagnosed, she had to make the heartwrenching decision to remove both her breasts and though she knew it was the right decision, it still hurt her to go through the pain of it. "It doesn't feel the same, and it's hard to carry your purse," she told CNN. "I cry at least once a day about it because it's hard to overlook it when you're standing there in the mirror. When you look down, it's the first thing you see... So you're reminded constantly of this thing -- this cancer thing that you had."

In an effort to reduce her risk for cancer even more, Applegate also had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in 2017 according to Self. Applegate certainly has been through a lot, and this latest diagnosis of MS may be both physically and emotionally taxing. Applegate is supported by her husband, Martyn LeNoble, and 10-year-old daughter Sadie. 

We send our support to Christina Applegate. What do you think of her diagnosis? Do you know someone who has MS? Tell us your thoughts, and be sure to pass this onto others to inform them of this news as well.