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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Epilepsy starting in patients aged over 60 years is classically said to be rare, but it is in fact remarkably frequent with an incidence rate higher than 100 in 100,000. Although these figures include isolated seizures, the recurrent seizure rate is still very high. In elderly people epilepsy is more often partial than generalized, and it must be distinguished from cerebral accidents of ischaemic origin and in particular from syncopes consecutive to postural hypotension or heart disease. Late onset epilepsy is often of vascular origin, but it may also be tumoral in some cases or, less frequently, post-traumatic, alcoholic or atrophic. Idiopathic generalized epilepsy is no longer observed. Cases of undetermined cause are less common than in younger subjects.
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PMID:[Epilepsy in elderly patients]. 240 81

Late onset epilepsy is increasing in incidence. These patients often have significant underlying morbidity. This retrospective study in a tertiary referral centre identified 68 patients aged 65 years or older, with new onset seizures over a four-year period. 81% of patients (n = 55) were followed up at an average of 2.7 years post diagnosis. 38% of patients had evidence of cerebrovascular disease (CT visualised focal infarction, haemorrhage or small vessel ischaemia in 32%, clinical diagnosis with normal CT brain in 6%). No patient was found to have a space-occupying lesion. Of the 55 patients followed up, 45% of these had died at a mean age of 82 years old and 1.9 years post diagnosis (range 12 hours to 5 years). Three patients died as a direct result of seizures (trauma and sepsis). 14 patients died of clearly unrelated causes. Eight patients died from underlying vascular disease or Alzheimer's dementia. Patients who died during follow-up were on average 3.4 years older at the time of diagnosis than survivors (p< 0.05). Patients with atrial fibrillation at the time of diagnosis, had increased mortality (relative risk 2.53; 95% C.I. 1.19 - 5.36), but they were older than those without atrial fibrillation. At the time of follow up, 92% of those taking anti-convulsants were maintained seizure free on anticonvulsant monotherapy.
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PMID:New onset seizures in the elderly: aetiology and prognosis. 1198 47

Onset of epilepsy can occur at any age, but it is relatively rare in the elderly. Late onset epilepsy is usually secondary to stroke, tumour, trauma or neurodegenerative disorders. A 62-year-old Indian woman presented with frequent drop attacks sometimes leading to unconsciousness and, rarely, associated with seizure. Her epilepsy work up was unremarkable. As the disease progressed, she was diagnosed as having idiopathic epilepsy, syncope or pseudo-seizure, on different occasions, and was treated at length with no response. Finally, detailed history-taking revealed her as having glossopharyngeal neuralgia leading to syncope and seizures. She subsequently improved. In clinical practice, such rare entities should also be considered for proper management of patients' ailments.
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PMID:Seizures with an atypical aetiology in an elderly patient: Eagle's syndrome--how does one treat it? 2660 39