Christina Applegate reveals she has multiple sclerosis
By Jack Guy, CNN
Posted:
Updated:
Actress Christina Applegate has announced that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The 49-year-old, known for her roles in “Bad Moms,” “Married… with Children” and “Dead to Me,” said in a tweet published overnight that she was diagnosed “a few months ago.”
Keep scrolling for a gallery of photos from the life and career of Christina Applegate
“It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition,” wrote Applegate. “It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some asshole blocks it.”
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system and is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks its own healthy cells. It affects quality of life and can be disabling.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, which is often called MS, but many people are able to manage their symptoms and adapt to new lifestyles after diagnosis.
The disease begins when a person’s immune system attacks the coverings of nerve fibers throughout the body. These protective nerve sheaths are called myelin, and they assist with the communication of nerves.
When myelin is destroyed, it exposes the nerves, slowing communication between these cells. The signs and symptoms are related to how much damage has been done.
Researchers believe that the disease is the result of both environmental and genetic factors, but the underlying cause is not known.
More than 2.3 million people have a diagnosis of MS worldwide, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Nearly 1 million people over the age of 18 live with a diagnosis of MS in the US, the nonprofit organization adds.
This is not the first health issue that Applegate has faced.
Christina Applegate and her now ex- husband, Johnathon Schaech, pose for photographers at the Los Angeles premiere of "Kate & Leopold," in this Dec. 11, 2001 file photo.
RIC FRANCIS
** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS MARCH 27-30 **Actress Christina Applegate poses March 16, 2003, in Los Angeles. Applegate, known for her role on "Married...With Children," co-stars with Gwyneth Paltrow in the female buddy-comedy "View From the Top," about two women trying to become first-class stewardesses. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
MATT SAYLES
Actress Christina Applegate kisses her award for 'Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series' for her work on "Friends" at the Emmy Creative Arts Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
ANN JOHANSSON
Christina Applegate poses during arrivals as designer Tom Ford is honored for his contribution to the worlds of fashion and entertainment by the City of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee with the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award in Beverly Hills, Calif., Sunday, March 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Ann Johansson)
RENE MACURA
Christina Applegate poses for photographers before the premiere of the film "Anchorman-The Legend of Ron Burgundy" Monday, June 28, 2004, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura)
RENE MACURA
Actors, from left, Fred Willard, Christina Applegate and Will Ferrell, cast members from the movie "Anchorman-The Legend of Ron Burgundy," have fun on the red carpet before the premiere of the movie Monday, June 28, 2004, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura)
RICHARD DREW
Actress Christina Applegate, making her Broadway debut in "Sweet Charity," poses after a press preview in New York Jan. 19, 2005. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
TINA FINEBERG
Christina Applegate reacts during the curtain call for the opening night performance of "Sweet Charity" at The Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York, Wednesday May 4, 2005. The show is Applegate's Broadway debut. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
TINA FINEBERG
Actress Christina Applegate poses with husband Johnathon Schaech as they arrive at the 2005 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Sunday, June 5, 2005. Applegate is nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in "Sweet Charity" (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Matt Sayles
Christina Applegate arrives at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
RICHARD DREW
Christina Applegate, center, making her Broadway debut in "Sweet Charity," performs durign a press preview of the show, in New York Wednesday Jan. 19, 2005. Begins performances in Minneapolis February 8, 2004. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
DAN STEINBERG
Actress Christina Applegate poses on the press line at "A Fine Romance" Benefit in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Kevork Djansezian
Presenter Christina Applegate speaks on stage during the 33rd Annual People's Choice Awards on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Danny Moloshok
Actress Christina Applegate arrives at the premiere of the movie "Over Her Dead Body" on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
Mark J. Terrill
Christina Applegate and Christian Slater make an award presentation at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Matt Sayles
Christina Applegate accepts the favorite female TV star award at the 35th Annual People's Choice Awards on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Matt Sayles
Christina Applegate, nominated for best actress in a television series, comedy or musical for “Samantha Who?,” poses as she arrives at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Chris Pizzello
Christina Applegate, center, performs the song "Frozen River" at the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
DAN STEINBERG
Actress Christina Applegate at the 16th Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women in Los Angeles, Calif. on Saturday, May 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Chris Pizzello
Christina Applegate, a cast member in the television series "Up All Night," answers a question as fellow cast members Maya Rudolph, left, and Will Arnett look on at the NBC Universal summer press tour, Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Chris Pizzello
Christina Applegate, a cast member in "Vacation," turns back for photographers at the premiere of the film on Monday, July 27, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Charles Sykes
Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate film "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" on Saturday, May 18, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Eric Charbonneau
HOLLYWOOD, CA - AUGUST 23: Christina Applegate and Martyn Lenoble at the Los Angeles Premiere of New Line Cinema's "Going The Distance" on August 23, 2010 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP Images)
Chris Pizzello
Christina Applegate, a cast member in "Bad Moms," poses at the premiere of the film at the Mann Village Theatre on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Chris Pizzello
Christina Applegate, left, and Ed Helms, cast members in the upcoming film "Vacation," address the audience during the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon 2015 at Caesars Palace on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Chris Pizzello
Kathryn Hahn, from left, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Mila Kunis and Annie Mumolo, cast members in the upcoming film "Bad Moms," accept the Female Stars of the Year award during the CinemaCon 2016 Big Screen Achievement Awards on Thursday, April 14, 2016, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Willy Sanjuan
Christina Applegate, from left, Will Ferrell and Linda Cardellini arrive at the LA Premiere of "Dead to Me" at The Broad Stage on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
Jordan Strauss
Christina Applegate arrives at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Jordan Strauss
Christina Applegate arrives at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Jordan Strauss
Christina Applegate arrives at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
