American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease requires bradykinesia and what other feature?

1. Resting tremor

2. Postural control

3. Memory impairment

4. Visual disturbance

The correct answer is: Resting tremor

The correct answer is resting tremor. The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is primarily clinical and is based on the presence of bradykinesia, which refers to slowness of movement, in conjunction with at least one other characteristic symptom. Resting tremor is one of the classic features associated with Parkinson's disease and is often observed in the arms or legs when the muscles are at rest. Resting tremor, alongside bradykinesia, serves as a key indicator of the disease, often giving rise to the characteristic shaking that many people associate with Parkinson's. This tremor typically disappears during voluntary movements, which can be an important distinction from tremors seen in other conditions. While postural instability is also a common feature of later stages of Parkinson's disease, it is not required for diagnosis in the earlier stages. Memory impairment and visual disturbances can occur in Parkinson’s, but they are not defining features for its diagnosis. Thus, resting tremor paired with bradykinesia forms the essential criteria for diagnosing Parkinson's disease.