1. Origin of seizures in elderly patients.
- Author
-
Schold C, Yarnell PR, and Earnest MP
- Subjects
- Age Factors, Aged, Epilepsies, Partial etiology, Female, Humans, Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis complications, Male, Vascular Diseases complications, Epilepsy etiology, Seizures etiology
- Abstract
Among 50 previously well patients, aged 69 years or older, who had a first seizure, a cause could be identified in only 25 (50%). Cerebrovascular disease accounted for the seizures in 30% of the total group. Only one tumor was found. Treatable causes were found in 20%. In 25 patients (50%), a cause could not be identified. A total of 56% of the patients had focal motor seizures, and in 44%, the seizures were generalized. A definite cause could be established in 57% of those with focal seizure and in 41% of those with generalized seizures. These results are compared with previous surveys of adult-onset epilepsy and indicate a somewhat different etiologic distribution in elderly patients.
- Published
- 1977