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(CNN) -
Actress Christina Applegate has announced that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The 49-year-old woman, known for her roles in "Bad moms" ("Bad mothers", in Spain; "The club of rebellious mothers", in Latin America), "Married ... with children" and "Dead for me "She said in a tweet posted overnight that she was diagnosed" a few months ago. "
"It has been a strange journey. But I have received so much support from people I know who also have this condition," Applegate wrote.
"It's been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some jerk blocks it."
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system and is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks its own healthy cells.
It affects the quality of life and can be disabling.
5 key facts about multiple sclerosis
Applegate was diagnosed a few months ago, she said on Twitter.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, which is often called MS, but many people are able to control their symptoms and adapt to new lifestyles after diagnosis.
The disease begins when a person's immune system attacks the nerve fiber coverings throughout the body.
These protective nerve sheaths are called myelin and they help with nerve communication.
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When myelin is destroyed, it exposes the nerves, which slows down communication between these cells.
The signs and symptoms are related to the damage caused.
Researchers believe that the disease is the result of environmental and genetic factors, but the underlying cause is unknown.
More than 2.3 million people are diagnosed with MS worldwide, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Nearly 1 million people over the age of 18 are living with an MS diagnosis in the US, the nonprofit adds.
This is not the first health problem Applegate has faced.
In 2008, she made the decision to have both breasts removed in a double mastectomy.
multiple sclerosis