Epilepsy and Seizures in Older Adults. Minus Related Pages. Epilepsy is more likely to develop in older adults because some risk factors for epilepsy are more common in older adults, 3 such as: Strokes.
Head injuries from falls. Brain tumors external icon. About half of older adults who are told they have epilepsy do not know the cause. More often, a person having a seizure may: Seem confused. Stare into space. Make unusual movements. Be unable to answer questions or talk. How Can I Help? Do I Call ? Only call if one or more of these are true: The person has never had a seizure before. The person has trouble breathing or waking after the seizure. The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.
The person has another seizure soon after the first one. While some of these diagnoses can be attributed to brain damage caused by stroke and neurodegenerative disease, Johnson explains, up to half of cases have no known cause. Patients in this study have been examined in-person six times over the years and are contacted yearly by telephone to answer questions about their health. They then used claims data to determine which of these individuals was eventually diagnosed with epilepsy after age 60 by December Their findings show that a variety of factors appear to increase the risk of LOE, including having baseline hypertension, diabetes, stroke or dementia, or being a smoker.
Suddenly reducing alcohol consumption will affect the nervous system and can cause a seizure. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or becomes blocked. This interrupts blood flow to the brain, which injures the tissue. The injury can alter the electrical activity in the brain, resulting in a post-stroke seizure. Often, it occurs within 24 hours of the stroke, but a post-stroke seizure can first appear months after a stroke.
There are many types of seizures that can occur in adults. These seizures are sorted into two main categories:. Focus on staying safe and avoiding injury. If possible, move away from furniture and large objects. Lie down on the floor and rest your head on a folded jacket or pillow. Potential causes include central nervous system infections, brain tumors, stroke, and brain injuries.
The use or stopping of certain substances, including alcohol, may also trigger a seizure. The type of seizure depends on the cause. If you have a seizure for the first time, get medical attention as soon as possible. A healthcare professional can help determine the underlying cause and provide a treatment plan, if needed. Symptoms of seizures vary by type.
Some cause uncontrollable jerking or shaking, while others may cause muscle stiffening. Here's how to tell them….
Learn more about types of seizures, causes and symptoms, and how you can help someone having…. They can cause a wide range of symptoms. Epilepsy can start at any age, but usually starts either in childhood or in people over Seizures can affect people in different ways, depending on which part of the brain is involved.
This does not mean you have epilepsy, as a seizure can have several causes and sometimes they're just a one-off, but you should see a doctor to find out why it happened. Find out more about the tests for epilepsy you might have. Find out what to do if someone has a seizure.
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