NEW YORK (AP) — Christina Applegate, who has candidly shared raw details about her journey with multiple sclerosis for years, revealed Monday her doctor says she doesn't have the autoimmune disease and was misdiagnosed.
“I’m back at square one where I don’t know what’s going on with me,” the actor said on the latest edition of her podcast “MeSsy,” along with co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who has been public about her own battle with MS.
Applegate first publicly announced in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with the disorder that causes the immune system to attack the cells in the central nervous system.
On Monday's podcast, Applegate revealed that despite the misdiagnosis, she still has “every symptom of someone with MS,” adding, “I still have to use wheelchairs when I go to the doctor’s office. I can’t walk from the car to the room.”
There is no single test for MS, and a diagnosis usually involves ruling out other causes. It can take years and seeing multiple doctors before one puts the clues together.
Applegate said the news had put her in an odd place since she and Sigler have become prominent advocates for people with MS.
"It’s weird because I feel like I let everybody down,” she said. “It’s very unnerving, and it’s really confusing for me.”
Most autoimmune diseases, especially in adults, aren’t caused by a specific gene defect. Instead, a variety of genes that affect immune functions can make people susceptible. Scientists say it then takes an “environmental” trigger, such as an infection, smoking or pollutants, to set the disease in motion.
On the podcast and earlier this year while promoting her memoir, "You with the Sad Eyes,” the Emmy-winning Applegate has been candid about unpredictable symptoms that have forced her to use diapers and scoot down stairs on her butt.
“My life has in some ways shrunk to the size of my California king,” she writes in her book.
FILE - Christina Applegate arrives at the 25th annual Critics' Choice Awards on Jan. 12, 2020, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — All-rounder Arafat Minhas spearheaded Pakistan's 87-run victory over England with a half century and a six-wicket haul as the home team notched its second successive win in the ODI tri-series on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old left-hander Minhas helped Pakistan to 302-9 with 59 off 58 balls after England captain Harry Brook had won the toss and elected to field.
Minhas then undid England’s strong reply with his left-arm spin to grab 6-40, including the prize wicket of Brook for 5, as the visitors were bowled out for 215 with more than 11 overs to spare in their opening game of the tournament, which also features Sri Lanka.
On Thursday, England takes on Sri Lanka, which lost the first match against Pakistan by 37 runs on Sunday.
Opening pair Tom Banton (57) and Ben Duckett (45) provided England with a whirlwind start of 91 in 14.3 overs before Duckett mistimed a pull against Haris Rauf and was caught at long leg.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ploy to deploy spinners from both ends then worked well. Minhas had Banton caught at short mid-wicket in his second over before he bowled Brook with a ball that spun a long way.
Joe Root hit 33 and Sam Curran, promoted to No. 5, made 27 but the rest of the batters crumbled.
Root’s off-stump was knocked back by Naseem Shah before Minhas hurried through the middle-order as England lost the last five wickets for only 18 runs.
Minhas wrapped up victory by running out Gus Atkinson with a direct throw.
He became the third Pakistan all-rounder, after Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi, to grab a five-wicket haul and score a half century in an ODI.
Earlier, half centuries from Minhas and Hasan Nawaz rescued Pakistan after the top-order had struggled on a good wicket for batting at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Nawaz, in his 6th ODI, made a career-best 79 while Minhas posted a maiden ODI half century as the pair put on 78 for the sixth wicket after Pakistan had slid to 133-5.
Root snapped up a brilliant low catch at short mid-wicket to dismiss Fakhar Zaman off Atkinson's first ball, while fellow opener Saim Ayub’s struggles with the bat continued when he top-edged Sonny Baker’s short ball to deep fine-leg on 8.
Babar Azam (34) started confidently with three boundaries against Baker, who was expensive in his opening spell, before the former captain wasted another good start and was bowled by Will Jacks.
Salman Ali Agha, a centurion in the first game, missed out on a low full toss from Adil Rashid and was caught by Atkinson at backward square leg.
Saad Baig, who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka on Sunday, showed a lot of promise before he was caught in the outfield off Atkinson for 35.
Nawaz, who started with a first-ball six off Rashid over long-on, got a life on 28 when Atkinson couldn’t hold onto a catch at backward square leg.
He reached his half century off 46 balls before Overton bowled him with a perfect yorker.
Minhas was twice dropped on 42 off Curran and then smashed three boundaries against the left-arm seamer
Faheem Ashraf struck 39 off 26 balls while paceman Baker grabbed two late wickets to finish with career-best figures of 3-65.
See AP’s full cricket coverage here
Pakistan's captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, left, and England's captain Harry Brook, stand for a coin toss before the start of the tri-series one-day international cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Pakistan's captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, left, shakes hand with England's captain Harry Brook, after a coin toss before the start of the tri-series one-day international cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)