Actress Applegate has multiple sclerosis.
Christina Applegate announced Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey,” the 49-year-old actress tweeted early Tuesday morning.
“But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a—hole blocks it.”
The “Dead to Me” star provided no other details, but asked for privacy in her fight.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, affects the central nervous system, causing the immune system to attack its own healthy cells. Nearly 1 million people in the United States are living with MS, according to the National MS Society.
Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 and almost threequarters of all diagnoses are in women.
In 2019, Selma Blair, who co-starred in “The Sweetest Thing” with Applegate, revealed her own MS diagnosis and has been candid in updates on her symptoms.
In 2008, Applegate was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.
“As one of my friends that has MS said ‘we wake up and take the indicated action,’ ” Applegate tweeted Tuesday.
“And that’s what I do.” Applegate won an Emmy in 2003 for a guest spot on “Friends” and has a Tony Award nomination for the musical “Sweet Charity.” Her films include “The Sweetest Thing,” “Anchorman,” “Hall Pass” and “Bad Moms.”
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but many people are able to manage their symptoms and adapt to new lifestyles after diagnosis.
Researchers believe that the disease is the result of both environmental and genetic factors, but the underlying cause is not known.
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.