Origin of seizures in elderly patients
C. Schold, P. R. Yarnell and M. P. Earnest
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.
