Celebrities Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis: Christina Applegate and More
Netflix’s Dead to Me star Christina Applegate recently revealed she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects the central nervous system.
It disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and the body. As a result, it can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control, and other basic body functions.
Applegate took to Twitter to share that she had been diagnosed a few months back, adding that she had received support from other people who also had multiple sclerosis. Here’s a look at some other celebrities with MS.
Selma Blair
Cruel Intentions star Selma Blair shared her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in October 2018. She got her results on August 16, 2018, but said she might have exhibited symptoms for years.
Blair further revealed that she frequently dropped things, had foggy memory, as well as spasmodic dysphonia (a voice disorder). When talking to ABC News, she spoke more about MS and how it had affected her.
When I first got MS, I had no idea what it was or how it would affect me… I have spasmodic dysphonia, right now. It’s interesting to put it out there to be here and say this is what my particular case looks like right now. And it could be very different in a year, for the better.
The actress also noted that MS was called the snowflake disease, as it was different for everyone.
Her journey after her MS diagnosis was shown in her documentary, Introducing, Selma Blair, which received rave reviews at the 2021 SXSW festival. It also won the Special Jury Recognition for Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling.
Jack Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne’s media personality son, Jack Osbourne, is another celebrity with MS. He was diagnosed with MS in 2012 when he was 26 years old.
Reportedly, the diagnosis came just weeks after he welcomed his oldest daughter, Pearl Clementine Osbourne, on April 24, 2012, with ex-wife Lisa Osbourne.
When speaking to People in March 2021, Jack revealed he hadn’t had any serious issues with MS for years. He also added that he did a lot of exercise and jujitsu.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
The Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler revealed in 2016 that she had been battling MS for 15 years. However, she didn’t exhibit any symptoms for many years and said the disease only started affecting her after 2005.
Sigler pointed out that MS mostly gave her trouble with mobility.
I can’t walk for a long period of time without resting. I cannot run. No superhero roles for me. Stairs? I can do them, but they’re not the easiest. When I walk, I have to think about every single step, which is annoying and frustrating.
Art Alexakis
Singer/songwriter Art Alexakis opened up about his MS diagnosis with fans in an open letter in 2019.
He shared he had it for anywhere between 10 to 20 years, saying it explained his difficulties with balance and gait, his higher sensitivity to heat and cold, as well as his fuzzy memory.