What causes epilepsy in the elderly?

Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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If a patient has no history of epilepsy but begins to experience epileptic seizures in old age, it is generally secondary epilepsy, also known as symptomatic epilepsy. All patients should have a clear cause, but with current diagnostic techniques, it is not always possible to find the cause. If the cause cannot be identified, it is called cryptogenic epilepsy. In such cases, it is generally necessary to improve diagnostic methods, such as cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cranial magnetic resonance angiography. The most common causes of epilepsy in the elderly are generally cerebrovascular disease, brain trauma, or encephalitis, and in some cases, brain tumors. Any disease that causes brain cell damage can potentially cause symptomatic epileptic seizures. If all imaging examinations fail to reveal any abnormalities, regular follow-ups are necessary to monitor for early-stage tumors that may not be detectable on imaging tests. Meanwhile, antiepileptic treatment should be administered, and routine blood tests, liver, and kidney functions should be regularly monitored.

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Written by Yuan Jun Li
Neurology
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What are the signs before the onset of epilepsy?

Before the onset of epilepsy, most patients do not exhibit any signs and can suddenly experience an epileptic seizure. Different types of epilepsy have different symptoms. For example, during a major seizure, symptoms can include limb twitching, eyes rolling upwards, frothing at the mouth, clenched teeth, loss of consciousness, and abnormal blood pressure, which can lead to severe falls and injuries. During a minor seizure, the patient mainly shows transient loss of consciousness, objects in hand may suddenly drop, unresponsiveness when called, and a vacant stare. Most patients do not fall, and the symptoms generally last for only a few seconds to tens of seconds. If autonomic epileptic seizures are considered, symptoms may include nausea and vomiting. Psychotic symptom seizures can present with hallucinations and delusions.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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What precautions should epilepsy patients take?

Patients with epilepsy should pay attention to establishing regular daily routines and avoid staying up late. They should not participate in potentially dangerous activities such as climbing or swimming. Also, they should minimize consumption of stimulating beverages like cola, Sprite, Red Bull, and coffee. It is advisable to eat more vegetables and fruits and reduce the intake of spicy and stimulating foods. Maintaining a regular life schedule is important, and playing electronic devices or using mobile phones for extended periods should be avoided. All sorts of exciting situations can easily trigger an epileptic seizure, so it is crucial to eat regularly without becoming too hungry or too full. Moreover, taking anti-epileptic drugs regularly and following medical guidance from doctors at the hospital is necessary.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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What causes epilepsy in children?

The causes of epilepsy in children primarily include congenital factors and acquired factors. Congenital factors are mainly due to premature birth, difficult labor, umbilical cord around the neck, neonatal intracranial hemorrhage, drug factors, etc. Acquired factors mainly include brain trauma, central nervous system infections, cerebrovascular disease, intracranial tumors, and other causes. Therefore, when a child exhibits symptoms of epilepsy, it is necessary to promptly visit the department of neurology to conduct relevant examinations to determine the cause. The examination methods mainly include CT, MRI, EEG, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, etc. After identifying the cause, symptomatic treatment methods should be adopted to control the symptoms of epilepsy episodes. In clinical practice, controlling epilepsy is mainly achieved through drug treatment, with commonly used medications including carbamazepine, sodium valproate, gabapentin, etc. For some patients with refractory epilepsy, surgical treatments may also be used to control symptoms.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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What can severe epilepsy lead to?

Severe epilepsy can cause many complications, such as cerebral edema, brain herniation, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, etc. Therefore, severe epilepsy can seriously threaten the patient's life. If the patient's epilepsy is not controlled in time, it can easily lead to a state of status epilepticus. Status epilepticus is a very dangerous central nervous system disease. Patients may experience sudden respiratory and circulatory arrest and uncontrollable massive gastrointestinal bleeding. For severe epilepsy patients, it is necessary to promptly administer medications such as diazepam and sodium valproate to terminate the seizures. If status epilepticus occurs, the patient needs to be urgently sent to the ICU for observation and treatment, and effective interventions for various complications must be provided. For example, in the case of cerebral edema caused by epilepsy, medications such as mannitol and glycerol fructose are needed to dehydrate and reduce intracranial pressure. If epilepsy causes acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, treatments to suppress acid, stop bleeding, and maintain blood pressure are required.

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What is an effective treatment for epilepsy?

To effectively treat epilepsy, it is crucial to adhere to the principles of medication use and cessation. First, epilepsy medication should generally be administered for one to two years without seizures before gradually reducing the dose. If seizures reoccur after dose reduction, or if there is significant worsening on electroencephalography (EEG), the dosage should be restored. If switching medications, take both medications concurrently for about a week, then gradually reduce the original medication to cessation while increasing the new medication to an effective dose. These are the principles of medication exchange and use. Then, consider the principles for attempting medication cessation. Generally, medication should not be ceased any earlier than one year and abrupt cessation should be avoided to prevent epilepticus status. If there is clear organic brain disease, persistent positive neurological signs, or continuous mental disorders with abnormal EEG readings, lifelong medication may be necessary. Some suggest that individuals older than 30 should be cautious about stopping medication. Since the recurrence rate upon cessation can exceed 50%, lifelong medication may be necessary.