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Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) Awareness Month
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Awareness Month
September 1, 2026
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Awareness Month
During Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Awareness Month (CMTAM) in September, join the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association to highlight not only challenges that people with CMT may face, but the importance of creating awareness. Support the more than 3 million people with CMT worldwide. Use the power of your voice to make a difference. Wear a blue enamel awareness ribbon pin to lend support to Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Awareness Month! Personalized Cause also offers blue fabric ribbons and blue silicone awareness wristband bracelets.
Wear a Blue Awareness Ribbon, Pin or Wristband to Lend Support to Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Awareness Month!
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a progressive nerve disease named after the three doctors who discovered it in 1886: Jean-Marie Charcot, Pierre Marie and Howard Henry Tooth. Charcot–Marie-Tooth disease is 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.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease results in smaller, weaker muscles. People may also experience loss of sensation and muscle contractions, and difficulty walking. Foot deformities such as hammertoes and high arches also are common. Symptoms usually begin in the feet and legs, but may eventually affect the hands and arms. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease symptoms typically appear in adolescence or early adulthood, but may also develop in midlife.
Symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
Signs and symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease may include:
- Weakness in legs, ankles and feet.
- Loss of muscle bulk in legs and feet.
- High foot arches.
- Curled toes (hammertoes).
- Decreased ability to run.
- Difficulty lifting the foot at the ankle (footdrop).
- Awkward or higher than normal step (gait).
- Frequent tripping or falling.
- Decreased sensation or a loss of feeling in legs and feet.
As Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease progresses, symptoms may spread from the feet and legs to the hands and arms. The severity of symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, even among family members.
Causes – Learn More During Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Awareness Month
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an inherited, genetic condition. It occurs when there are mutations in the genes that affect the nerves in the feet, legs, hands and arms. Sometimes, these mutations damage the nerves. Other mutations damage the protective coating that surrounds the nerve (myelin sheath). Both cause weaker messages to travel between the limbs and brain.
Risk factors
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is hereditary, so people are at higher risk of developing the disorder if anyone in one’s immediate family has the disease.
Complications
Complications of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease vary in severity from person to person. Foot abnormalities and difficulty walking are usually the most serious problems. Muscles may get weaker, and people may injure areas of the body that experience decreased sensation. Sometimes the muscles in the feet may not receive the brain’s signal to contract, causing tripping and falling.
Potential Future Treatments – KNOW MORE During Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Awareness Month
Researchers are investigating a number of potential therapies that may one day treat Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Potential therapies include medications, gene therapy. and in vitro procedures that may help prevent passing the disease to future generations. From awareness to action!
