Charcot Marie Tooth Disease

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Charcot Marie Tooth Disease is a congenital peripheral nerve disorder. The surface of the brain and the spinal cord are the organs where peripheral nerves are located. It connects the central nervous system and the body. CMT is also known as personal muscular atrophy. It is one of the most common neurological disorders according to research.

Congenital disease means the condition was inherited from one parent or both parents. CMT is caused by defective genes that disturb the function and structure of the insulating layers around nerves. In a rare occasion, CMT could develop spontaneously which means that the defective genes are not inherited from parents. Each of the 5 main types of CMT has its own cause and they are:

CMT1 - This could occur by inheriting a mutated gene. This is considered the most common type of CMT.CMT2 - This could occur if there is a defect in the peripheral nerve cell's axon.CMT3 - This is a rare type of CMT and it could occur from a mutation in the P0 or PMP-22 gene.CMT4 - This could occur from several gene mutations.

During adolescence CMT symptoms occur but sometimes symptoms appear in mid-adulthood. Symptoms are:

feeble legsstanding impedimentrecurrent trippingwalking impedimenthigh stepping when walking

Physical signs of CMT are:

abnormal footlower legs are inverted

Determining the cause and how much nerve damage are the first steps of diagnosis. It also includes nerve condition study, electromyography, nerve biopsy, and genetic testing. Genetic testing is done to determine if defective genes is causing CMT. Electromyography is done to measure the muscle's electrical activity. A nerve biopsy is done by removing a nerve sample from the calf to be examined for the appearance of CMT. Nerve conduction study is done by placing small electrodes on the skin and transmitting a small amount of electricity to the electrodes; if the response is weak it may indicate CMT.

Common treatment for CMT is physical therapy. It involves stretching and light exercises to help improve muscle strength and prevent atrophy. Regular intakes of vitamins and supplements that can help reduce the symptoms and manage the effects of Charcot Marie Tooth disease are recommended. Vitamins and supplements such as coenzyme Q10 which can help improve physical performance, Vitamin C can help treat balance and physical performance issues, creatine which can help treat myopathies, and Alpha lipoic acid can help protect the nerves from toxic chemicals and help ease burning and numbness sensations caused by CMT.

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Eliza Anderson has published 220 articles. Article submitted on September 10, 2014. Word count: 399

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