Christina Applegate: US actress reveals she has Multiple Sclerosis

Emmy Award-winner actress Christina Applegate has announced that she has Multiple Sclerosis, describing her diagnosis as a “tough road.”

The 49-year-old actress, widely known for her cameo in Friends as Rachel's sister Amy, as well as for her roles in “Married... with Children” and “Dead to Me,” revealed the news on Tuesday morning in a tweet.

“Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition,” wrote Applegate.

“It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going.”

In a later post, she added: “Now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing.”

Multiple sclerosis- also known as MS- is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system, impacting speech, movement of limbs and vision.

Although it is not fatal in itself, the condition does lower life expectancy by up to 10 years and often results in progressive physical and cognitive decline.

The exact cause of MS is unknown, and cases can range from mild to severe.

Applegate won her Emmy in 2003 for a guest spot on “Friends” and has a Tony Award nomination for the musical “Sweet Charity.”

She was nominated for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for Samantha Who? in 2008 and 2009.Her films include: “The Sweetest Thing,” “Anchorman,” “Hall Pass” and “Bad Moms.”

She has previously discussed her 2008 battle with breast cancer, after which she had a double mastectomy as well as her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.

Applegate most recently starred as Jen Harding in the new series of Dead to Me, a Netflix comedy centred around two grieving women who bond during therapy.

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