3 things to know about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

When Newnan native Alan Jackson disclosed he was diagnosed with a neurological disorder on the Today Show Tuesday, many fans had never heard of the condition.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or CMT, is described by the Mayo Clinic as “a group of inherited disorders that cause nerve damage. This damage is mostly in the arms and legs (peripheral nerves).”

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is also called hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy.

Here are three things to know about the condition.

It affects mobility

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke stated that motor and sensory nerves are affected by the disease. Early characteristics can include weakness or paralysis of the lower leg muscles and foot. Balance issues may also occur. High arches and curled toes are common foot deformities.

“The lower legs may take on an ‘inverted champagne bottle’ shape due to the loss of muscle bulk. As the disease progresses, weakness and atrophy may occur in the hands, causing difficulty with fine motor skills.”

It’s inherited

“CMT can run in a family, even when there is no obvious family history. In part, this is because CMT can be inherited in three different ways — X-linked, autosomal dominant, and autosomal recessive — that are not always easy to trace through a family tree,” the Muscular Dystrophy Association said on its website.

There’s no cure, but it can be treated

Although there is no cure for the condition, Mayo Clinic says medication, therapy and surgery are among the treatments.

Medication can treat pain from muscle cramps and nerve damage. Physical therapy can help strengthen muscles. Early treatment can prevent disability. Orthopedic devices can help maintain mobility and prevent injury.

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