Christina Applegate, 54, has shared a deeply personal update on her ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), revealing just how profoundly the disease has impacted her life. Diagnosed five years ago, the Married… with Children star has experienced a significant decline in her daily functioning.
In a candid interview with People, Applegate explained that MS now leaves her bedridden for much of the day, though she still makes the effort to take her 15-year-old daughter, Sadie, to school. “I want to take her; it’s my favorite thing to do. It’s the only time we have together by ourselves,” she said. “I tell myself, ‘Just get her there safely and get home so you can get back into bed.’ And that’s what I do.”
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms such as muscle stiffness, difficulty walking or speaking, and visual impairments. Nearly one million people in the U.S. live with MS, which affects women two to three times more than men. Currently, there is no cure, and treatments focus on reducing relapses, managing symptoms, and slowing disease progression.
Applegate first noticed symptoms while filming the first season of Dead to Me, including tingling in her toes and weakness in her legs, which eventually required her to use a wheelchair on set. She has openly discussed how even routine daily activities—like walking down stairs or carrying objects—have become difficult. “With the disease of MS, it’s never a good day,” she said.
Despite these challenges, Applegate has maintained her sense of humor and resilience. At the 2024 Emmys, she joked about receiving a standing ovation despite her disability. She also revealed she has 30 lesions on her brain, sometimes causing a “seizure-y” sensation, and has turned to therapy to support her mental health.
Alongside MS, Applegate has faced a tumultuous personal history, including surviving childhood abuse and breast cancer. She explores these experiences in her upcoming memoir, You With the Sad Eyes, releasing March 3. The book reflects on her early fame, family struggles, toxic relationships, and her journey with MS. Applegate hopes her story will resonate and inspire others, while remaining honest about the challenges she has endured.
