Overview
- Applegate revealed on her MeSsy podcast that physicians told her the multiple sclerosis diagnosis she received in 2021 was a misdiagnosis and that she does not have MS.
- The change in diagnosis did not bring physical improvement because Applegate’s neurological symptoms and disability have persisted and she remains reliant on a wheelchair after months in hospital earlier this year.
- Applegate described learning the news as emotionally devastating and said the reversal triggered severe depression and guilt about her role as a public face for people who have MS.
- A Cedars-Sinai neurologist on the podcast explained that there is no single definitive test for MS and that misdiagnoses occur with some frequency, with studies finding a substantial minority of initial MS diagnoses may be incorrect.
- Doctors are continuing detailed testing to identify an alternative cause for Applegate’s symptoms and the case highlights wider diagnostic limits for MS and the personal and clinical consequences when a long-held diagnosis changes.