Which MS symptom can result from brainstem lesions?

Brainstem lesions in multiple sclerosis can lead to difficulty with coordination and balance due to the critical role the brainstem plays in processing motor control and sensory information. The brainstem is responsible for many autonomic functions and is a pathway for signals traveling between the brain and the rest of the body. It houses centers that help coordinate movement and maintain balance. When lesions occur in this area, they can disrupt the communication pathways and affect the cerebellum, which is essential for motor control. This disruption results in impairments such as ataxia, clumsiness, and an overall loss of balance, making coordination tasks challenging.

The other symptoms listed, while they can occur in multiple sclerosis, are typically linked to lesions in other parts of the central nervous system. Visual disturbances often result from lesions in the optic pathways or visual cortex, numbness in extremities is commonly related to spinal cord lesions, and fatigue and lethargy can be multifactorial but are not directly tied to brainstem lesions specifically. Therefore, the choice that relates directly to brainstem lesions is the one involving difficulty with coordination and balance.