Several possible studies
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Up to 20% of MS diagnoses are wrong, like Christina Applegate's. Here's what doctors say patients should know. - CBS News (opens in a new tab)
Up to 20% of MS diagnoses are wrong, like Christina Applegate's. Here's what doctors say patients should know. · 2026-10-16
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Several possible studiesNo confirmed study match.
Several papers could fit this story, but none could be confirmed as its source. The claims remain unverified.
These papers were considered as possible sources, but none could be confirmed as the study behind this story.
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Up to 20% of MS diagnoses are wrong, like Christina Applegate's. Here's what doctors say patients should know. - CBS News
Up to 20% of MS diagnoses are wrong, like Christina Applegate's. Here's what doctors say patients should know. · 2026-10-16
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Several studies could be the source of this story.
More than one paper fits the article's details, and none fits well enough to single out. Checking claims against the wrong study would be worse than not checking them at all.
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Several studies could fit.
More than one paper fits the article's details, and none fits well enough to single out. Checking claims against the wrong study would be worse than not checking them at all.
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The paper behind the story
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The research anchor for the report.
- Cited as backgroundpresented as earlier work
https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/revised-mcdonald-criteria-for-multiple-sclerosis
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Claim 1 of 5Not checkedChristina Applegate said she had been misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis after years of believing she had the condition.View evidenceHide evidence
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NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 2 of 5Not checkedExperts say almost 1 in 5 people who are told they have multiple sclerosis did not actually have it.View evidenceHide evidence
As statedalmost 1 in 5; 15% to 20%
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NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 3 of 5Not checkedThe article says MS misdiagnosis is often discovered when symptoms do not improve and a patient seeks a second opinion, leading to more advanced testing such as specialized MRI, spinal MRI, or spinal fluid analysis.View evidenceHide evidence
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NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 4 of 5Not checkedDoctors say the most common root cause of MS misdiagnosis is misinterpretation of brain MRI abnormalities, since lesions can also be caused by other conditions such as high blood pressure, smoking, or migraines.View evidenceHide evidence
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NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 5 of 5Not checkedThe article says new multiple sclerosis diagnostic criteria published in 2025 were developed to reduce misdiagnosis risk and are more specific than before, especially for interpreting brain lesions.View evidenceHide evidence
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NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Method layer
No single source study was found.
The search results are available for you to inspect. Without a confirmed source study, they cannot establish whether the story’s claims are supported or contradicted.
Search results
Candidate papers, not confirmed sources.
PubMed, Crossref, Europe PMC · 15 candidate papers
Two Cases of Myeloid Sarcoma at Rare Sites: Cytological Manifestations and Diagnostic Experience.
Diagnostic Cytopathology · 2026 · PubMed
Incidence of multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis in referrals to two academic centers
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · 2019 · Crossref
The evolution of disease criteria in multiple sclerosis: underlying motives and broader implications.
2026 · Europe PMC
Analysis of Clinical Features in Children with Vasovagal Syncope Complicated by Convulsions or Incontinence.
Biomedicines · 2025 · PubMed
Faculty Opinions recommendation of Incidence of multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis in referrals to two academic centers.
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature · 2019 · Crossref