Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common hereditary neuropathy in the world, affecting millions worldwide; it is named after the three doctors who discovered it. There are four types of CMT; types 1 and 2 also have subtypes. CMT1A is the most common form of CMT, representing seventy-five percent of CMT patients. In some types of CMT, the myelin sheath that transmits nerve impulses to and from the brain is damaged, causing nerve impulses to be conducted more slowly. In other types of CMT, the axon itself is damaged and, although the conduction is nearly normal, the strength of the nerve impulses is reduced. All forms of CMT can result in muscle wasting and a decrease in motor and sensory function.
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