Alan Jackson Illness: Alan Jackson is among the most well-known and popular country music performers of all time. His traditional country sound and sincere lyrics have garnered him the moniker of “neo-traditionalist,” and he has amassed a string of hits.
On the male side of country music, he has been as influential as Loretta Lynn was on the female side, influencing artists such as Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, and others. He has also inspired women; Carrie Underwood stated that one of his concerts was the first concert she ever attended.
Everyone enjoys his music, but few are familiar with the man who created it. Who is Alan Jackson when he’s not performing? Below is a comprehensive overview of Alan Jackson’s illness throughout his existence.
Alan Jackson Illness
Fans have long been curious about Alan Jackson’s health, with many recently speculating that he has Parkinson’s disease. In a 2021 interview with The Today Show, Alan Jackson finally disclosed the answer to the question everyone had been asking, and the world finally comprehended.
What illness does Alan Jackson suffer from? Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease
Jackson had been suffering in seclusion for several years due to the degenerative genetic disorder he inherited from his father. When initially did Alan Jackson discover he had cancer? When the musician was diagnosed with CMT in 2011, he was in his early 50s, making his case typical of those with CMT.
Hospitalisation of Alan Jackson
In 2022, when Alan Jackson was hospitalised for his neurological condition, online rumours began to circulate that he had passed away. The illness has also required him to cancel numerous appearances.
In the same interview in which he disclosed his illness, Jackson stated, “I am aware that I am faltering on stage. … Even in front of the microphone, I am abruptly finding it difficult to balance. It will not be fatal. Not that I am denying my ability to tour. I will make every endeavour possible.”
What is the disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth?
Charcot-Marie- LouisTooth disease can induce motor and sensory neuropathy by impacting the peripheral nervous system. The illness destroys both muscle tissue and the capability to sense pain. Some people don’t exhibit symptoms until their 30s or 40s, despite the fact that they typically appear in early infancy or adolescence.
Approximately one in 2,500 people are affected by this illness. Since over a decade ago, the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease has been a constant struggle for the two-time Grammy winner. During an interview in 2021, the artist reportedly stated:
What triggered Alan Jackson’s ailment?
CMT is caused by mutations in genes that code for proteins crucial to the development and function of the axon or myelin sheath of peripheral nerves. Various forms of the disease are linked to abnormalities in a variety of proteins, but all mutations have a profound effect on the peripheral nervous system.
Other mutations impair axon function and result in axonal degeneration, whereas myelin gene mutations cause malfunction of the covering, which distorts or inhibits nerve impulses. Each of the over 40 alleles associated with CMT may cause a distinct form of the disease.
In addition, multiple genes may be linked to a singular form of CMT. The duplication of the PMP22 gene on chromosome 17 causes more than fifty percent of CMT cases. CMT-causing gene mutations can be transmitted in one of three ways: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked.
CMT Variations
Some symptoms are shared by all forms of CMT, but each has a distinct inheritance pattern, onset age, and concentrate on either the axon or the myelin sheath. CMT type 1, one of six primary subtypes of this autosomal dominant disorder, is caused by myelin sheath abnormalities.
In individuals with CMT1A, the peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP22) gene, which is located on chromosome 17, is duplicated. Typically, CMT1A progresses slowly. Beginning in infancy, affected individuals experience hand weakness, sensory loss, foot and leg difficulties, as well as muscle wasting and atrophy in the lower extremities.
CMT1B is caused by mutations in the locus responsible for producing myelin protein zero (MPZ, also known as P0), another essential component of the myelin sheath. The symptoms and indications of CMT1B closely resemble those of CMT1A. CMT1 can also be caused by mutations in SIMPLE (also known as LITAF), EGR2, PMP22, and NEFL, but these mutations are significantly less common.
Can CMT be treated?
The illness is currently untreatable. However, its progression is typically slow, and it has a negligible impact on average lifespan. Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth may benefit from physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help them manage their condition.
Medication, gene therapy, and in vitro procedures are being investigated in the hopes that they will one day be able to cure the condition and prevent it from being passed down from generation to generation.
