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What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease... the devastating condition that killed 9-1-1 Nashville actor Isabelle Tate READ MORE: Tragic twist of fate that set Ananda Lewis on path of deadly alternative cancer treatments By LUKE ANDREWS, US SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER Published: 05:20 BST, 25 October 2025 | Updated: 05:22 BST, 25 October 2025 The 9-1-1 Nashville actress who died at 23 years old was suffering from a neurological disorder that affects 3 million people worldwide, her family has said. Isabelle Tate's death was revealed on Thursday, with her family saying she had died on Sunday from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, CMT, a genetic condition that causes the peripheral nerves, such as those in the hands or legs, to gradually deteriorate over time. Patients initially suffer from weakened leg and arm muscles, doctors say, before they start to have trouble moving their limbs and lose feeling in the areas. But for most sufferers, the disease is not fatal. In rare cases, however, it can affect muscles needed for breathing, gradually starving someone of oxygen. Tate's family said their daughter had a severe form of the disease. In an Instagram post in 2022, Tate opened up about her disease and revealed how her condition had 'really progressed'. She said: 'When I was 13, I got diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease that weakens leg muscles over time. 'Over the years, I was going on with my life and would notice little things get more difficult for me, but not so much where it stood out to me.' An obituary for Isabelle Tate describes her as someone who 'wanted to change the world' and 'full of fire' She continued: 'Recently, it's really progressed, and I've come to terms that if I want to live my life to the fullest, I need to use a wheelchair at times. 'This has been a difficult journey for me because having to accept help and surrender to the progression of this condition has been hard.' CMT is considered to be a rare disease, but is one of the most common inherited nerve disorders, estimated to affect one in 2,500 people in the US and 3million worldwide. It is named after the three doctors who described the disease in 1886, Jean-Martin Charcot, Pierre Marie and Howard Henry Tooth. There are more than 160 subtypes that have been identified to date, the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association says, all caused by genetic mutations that cause essential proteins for nerves not to function properly. Among the most common are CMT1, where fatty sheets coating nerves degrade, causing damage to the cells, and CMT2, which affects the nerve fibers that transmit impulses from nerve cell bodies to muscles and sensory organs. Among the deadliest form is CMT Type 4J, which is caused by mutations in the FIG4 gene, important for controlling the transfer of nutrients in nerve cells. This type of the disease can progress rapidly and cause respiratory complications, with many sufferers dying in childhood. It was not clear which type Tate was suffering from. Isabelle Tate received a Bachelor's Degree in business from Middle Tennessee State University Isabelle Tate played Julie in the pilot episode of the Leann Rimes-led show 9-1-1 Nashville; Seen in a still above Patients suffering from the condition normally have the disease diagnosed between the ages of five and 15 years, when symptoms first start to appear. Early warning signs can include appearing unusually clumsy or accident-prone, difficulty walking and toes dropping forward as someone lifts their feet. Tragic twist of fate that set Ananda Lewis and many others on path of dangerous alternative medicine In later stages, patients suffer from weakened muscles and a lack of sensation in the arms and feet. They may also have cold hands and feet caused by poor circulation, and feel tired regularly as a result of the extra effort it takes to move around. Doctors diagnose the disease using a physical examination for muscle weakness, a nerve conduction test and a genetic test. There is no cure for the disease, but therapies are available to help reduce the symptoms of the condition. Many patients will be offered physical therapy to strengthen muscles and reduce the risk of unwanted contractions. Patients may also receive walking aides, such as insoles in their shoes, and therapy to help them identify areas in life where they are struggling. Country singer Alan Jackson also revealed he was diagnosed with the disease. Jackson was not diagnosed until he was 52 years old and is still alive today, having turned 67 years old this month. Share or comment on this article: What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease... the devastating condition that killed 9-1-1 Nashville actor Isabelle Tate Add comment
