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Living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2J

An inherited nerve condition starting later in life with pupil changes, hearing loss, and weakness in the hands and feet.

Understanding Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2J

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2J is a form of axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a nerve disease affecting movement and feeling.

It starts relatively late, in adulthood. Most people have changes in how the pupils react and hearing loss, along with weakness and wasting in the muscles farthest from the center of the body.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Weakness in the hands and feet
  • Wasting of muscles in the hands and feet
  • Pupil changes
  • Hearing loss (deafness)
  • Absent or reduced reflexes
  • Loss of feeling in the hands and feet

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in MPZ are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation Inc., Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation Inc., Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation Inc. and other patient organizations
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can MPZ genetic testing confirm the diagnosis?
How often should my hearing and eyes be checked?
What therapy can help with weakness?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startAdult
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant
GenesMPZ

Changes in the MPZ gene cause this condition. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant way, so one changed copy of the gene can cause it.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: autosomal dominant charcot-marie-tooth disease type 2j; charcot-marie-tooth disease type 2 with hearing loss and pupillary abnormalities; charcot-marie-tooth disease, axonal, type 2j; charcot-marie-tooth disease, type 2, with hearing loss and pupillary abnormalities; charcot-marie-tooth disease, type 2j; charcot-marie-tooth neuropathy type 2j

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2JGARD ID 9198 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2J.

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Explore actively recruiting Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2J studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2J with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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