What causes seizures in adults over 60?

Seizures among older adults can be attributed to myriad conditions that affect the brain; the Epilepsy Foundation states that seizures are associated with physical changes in an elder’s brain caused by a stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or brain tumors.

What causes seizures in older adults for the first time?

The most common acquired etiologies of new-onset epilepsy and seizures in the elderly include cerebrovascular diseases, primary neuron degenerative disorders associated with cognitive impairment, intracerebral tumors, and traumatic head injury.

Can adults suddenly develop epilepsy?

Age. The onset of epilepsy is most common in children and older adults, but the condition can occur at any age.

What brings on epilepsy later in life?

The most common causes of seizures starting in later life are cerebrovascular, which means changes or damage to the blood vessels around the brain. Some people who have had a stroke may have one or more seizures. However, this does not necessarily happen, and in many cases seizures are not linked with strokes.

Does epilepsy get worse as you get older?

Age: Adults over the age of 60 may experience an increased risk for epileptic seizures, as well as related complications. Family history: Epilepsy is often genetic. If you have a family member who experienced epilepsy-related complications, then your own risk may be higher.

Can a neurologist tell if you ve had a seizure?

If your doctor thinks you’ve had a seizure, she will probably refer you to a neurologist. When you visit your doctor, he’ll ask lots of questions about your health and what happened before, during, and after the seizure. A number of tests may be ordered which can help diagnose epilepsy and see if a cause can be found.

Can you suddenly start having seizures?

Mounting evidence indicates that abnormal autoimmune activity can elicit a sudden onset of seizures in adults.

How often are people diagnosed with epilepsy over 60?

Living with epilepsy when you’re over 60 I’m over 60 and just been told I have epilepsy. Why now? One in every 4 people who are newly diagnosed with epilepsy is over the age of 65. No cause is found for around half the people.

Is it common for women to have epilepsy?

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic conditions affecting women. Care for women with epilepsy requires expertise not only in seizure treatment, but also an understanding of the unique challenges presented in the treatment of women with epilepsy.

Can a person over 60 have a tonic clonic seizure?

People over 60 who develop epilepsy don’t usually have tonic-clonic seizures. They usually have focal seizures, which can be hard to recognise and take some time to diagnose. Occasionally, a focal seizure can turn in to a tonic-clonic seizure.

How does antiseizure work for women with epilepsy?

Epilepsy and antiseizure medications (ASMs) interact with aspects of health care specific to women, including sexual and reproductive health, menstrual cycle, contraception and family planning, teratogenesis, and pregnancy.

What happens if you have epilepsy at age 60?

This is because they are more likely to cause you to have things like confusion or memory problems. And some might cause you to have a strange taste or smell something that isn’t there. People over 60 who develop epilepsy don’t usually have tonic-clonic seizures.

How many people in the US have epilepsy?

Epilepsy is brain disorder that causes repeated seizures. About 3 million US adults aged 18 years or older have active epilepsy. 1 Nearly 1 million of those adults are aged 55 or older. 2 As our population ages, there will be even more older people with epilepsy in the coming years.

How often do people with epilepsy get their seizures controlled?

The right one for you will depend on your age, the types of seizure you have, and any other medical conditions you’re being treated for. With the right dose of the right epilepsy medicine or medicines, around 7 or 8 out of every 10 people with epilepsy can get their seizures completely controlled.