(The Associated Press) The Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation (HNF) is proud to announce its new partnership with Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP, offices of Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Jasen Langley, Dr. Alison DeWaters and Dr. Varun (Ben) Gujral with locations in Howell, Edison and Monroe, NJ. This is a collaborative relationship that will help ensure quality health care for people with hereditary neuropathies, the most common of which is Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, named after the three doctors who first identified it, affects an estimated 1 in 2,500 people in the United States and 2.6 million people worldwide, although experts believe the number could be much higher.  This genetic disease causes problems with the sensory and motor nerves that run from the arms and legs to the spinal cord and brain.  CMT is progressive, resulting in slower or weaker nerve signals from the brain to the extremities, which in turn can cause muscle atrophy and mobility challenges over time.

The mission of HNF is to support and improve the quality of life for people with CMT.  One of the key strategies to accomplishing this mission is to increase awareness of this relatively unknown, yet not uncommon condition.  Awareness is of course essential for health care professionals, many of whom are not currently familiar with the disease, its symptoms, and treatment protocols.  Nowhere is this knowledge more crucial than within the field of podiatry, most often the area of the body most affected by CMT.

The podiatrists and dedicated staff at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP will be working closely with HNF to bring to the podiatry and general community the latest information in the diagnosis and treatment for people with CMT.  Information will be disseminated through the new National CMT Resource Center website, www.help4cmt.com, and Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center’s site, http://www.footdoctorsnj.com. Please visit each of these websites to sign up for their monthly e-newsletters, and to also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information about CMT or to speak to an educator, please call the Heredity Neuropathy Foundation at (212) 722-8396. If you or someone you love might be suffering with complications in the foot or ankle resulting from CMT, please contact the Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center’s Howell location at (732) 905-1110, or their Edison and Monroe locations at (732) 662-3050 to schedule an appointment time with one of the physicians.