American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam

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What is a common manifestation of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)?

  1. Asymmetrical weakness in legs and feet

  2. Frequent headaches

  3. Loss of vision

  4. Numbness in hands

The correct answer is: Asymmetrical weakness in legs and feet

A common manifestation of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is asymmetrical weakness in the legs and feet. This characteristic reflects the nature of the disease, which primarily involves the degeneration of motor neurons leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. In ALS, muscle weakness can be more pronounced on one side of the body than the other, resulting in asymmetrical presentation. As the disease progresses, affected individuals may experience difficulty with fine motor skills, walking, and other daily activities due to the muscle weakness and associated muscle wasting. The emphasis on the legs and feet is particularly notable, as ALS often begins in the lower extremities, but it can also affect the arms and bulbar muscles as the condition advances. The other options do not represent typical symptoms of ALS. Frequent headaches may arise from a variety of other conditions but are not a hallmark of ALS. Loss of vision is not directly associated with the disease, as ALS primarily affects motor functions rather than sensory modalities. Similarly, numbness in the hands may suggest peripheral neuropathy or other conditions impacting nerve function, but it is not a characteristic feature of ALS, which is primarily defined by weakness and muscle atrophy without sensory loss.