Seniors fastest growing group of epileptics

Seizures can result in dangerous falls and burns, making proper diagnosis and treatment important.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Jan. 2/9, 2006.

Washington -- When elderly people experience periods of confusion, it might signal a "senior moment." But these periods of disorientation could be a sign of epilepsy, now recognized as occurring more frequently within this population.

People older than 60 constitute the fastest growing group of those with epilepsy, with 68,000 new cases diagnosed each year, said Georgia Montouris, MD, assistant professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine. Approximately 15% to 18% of nursing home patients have epilepsy, she noted.

More than 300,000 Americans in their 60s, 70s and 80s have the disorder, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, and, as the population ages, its prevalence is likely to increase.

"Epilepsy is often thought of as occurring mainly in children, but it can come on at any age," said Richard Mattson, MD, professor emeritus of neurology at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

Drs. Montouris and Mattson were among those speaking at a Dec. 2 briefing sponsored by the J. Kiffin Penry Epilepsy Minifellowship Program. The program, started in 1985, was created to teach neurologists about the condition.

Though common, the disorder can be mistaken for a stroke or Alzheimer's disease in older patients because, like epilepsy, both frequently trigger seizures. This circumstance adds to the complexity of diagnosing and treating epilepsy. Symptoms can range from episodes of staring or unresponsiveness to involuntary movements of arms and legs.