CMT Complexities Require Genetic Expertise

As a broad category of genetic neuropathies, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or CMT, often is more complex than people realize. Over a hundred different genes can result in diverse cases of CMT.

“It’s important to understand the constellation of features that come along with each genetic form of CMT,” says Meghan McAnally, MD, a neuromuscular neurologist in the Comprehensive Neuromuscular Center at Cincinnati Children’s. “That way, providers can give families a guide for what life will look like long-term, and in the meantime, optimize the appropriate subspecialty care.”

At the Comprehensive Neuromuscular Center, subspecialists conduct diagnostic workups in collaboration with genetic counselors for patients with suspected neuropathy to get a genetic diagnosis and treat symptoms more strategically.

The Importance of a Multidisciplinary Subspecialty Team

When a child has CMT, it helps to receive treatment from experts familiar with this rare disease. Trained subspecialists understand that each genetic type of CMT is very different.

“We’re able to fine tune their care because we understand really specifically the functional impact of the genetic change,” says McAnally.

Cincinnati Children’s is a one-stop-shop for families seeking CMT support. Each patient receives care from a neurologist who has expertise in neuromuscular care and other experts familiar with the complexities of CMT, based on the patient’s symptoms and needs, including specialists in:

• Genetic counseling
• Occupational therapy
• Orthopaedics
• Physical therapy
• Pulmonology
• Rehab medicine
• Social work and psychology

Families have the option to see all providers at one visit or see multiple providers on different days with the help of a Comprehensive Neuromuscular Center clinic coordinator. Additionally, Cincinnati Children’s partners with local neurologists and community providers to optimize care when patients live far away.

CMTA Center for Excellence Designation

In January 2026, Cincinnati Children’s became one of approximately 65 centers in the world to receive a Center of Excellence designation from the CMT Association (CMTA). This designation:

• Provides increased access to trials, referrals and collaborations with other institutions
• Enables families searching for a clinic to find Cincinnati Children’s as a site that provides specialized care for patients with CMT
• Indicates an ongoing commitment to clinical research and therapeutic trials with the goal of increasing patient access to cutting-edge research opportunities and emerging treatments for inherited neuropathies

To contact us, visit the Comprehensive Neuromuscular Center online.

(Published May 2026)

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