Seizures after the age of sixty (author's transl)

Three percent of epileptic patients have their first seizure after the age of 60. More than at other ages, the real nature of such fits is very difficult to assert. Most of the reversible attacks occurring at this age are not of grave nature, syncopes are much more frequent. Some semeiological aspects are discussed. Focal seizures are more frequent after the age of 60. Absence status may be the first epileptic symptom in some rare cases (almost all of them being women). 100 patients whose ages ranged from 60 to 83 years, were examined after their first seizure and aetiological problems were examined. The following topics are discussed:--The possible onset of a primary epilepsy, extremely rare at that age;--The incidence of neoplasms, not exceeding 10% for patients whose late onset epilepsy is still an isolated symptom, and who have not been selected from specialized neurological or neurosurgical hospital departments;--The role of vascular epilepsy; in a very few cases, but of great practical interest, the epilepsy may announce a cerebrovascular accident which will occur later. It is, however, difficult to specify the vascular origin of a certain number of temporary unexplained late onset epilepsies. Some other aetiological factors are taken into account: antecedents of trauma, alcoholism, and dementia. The authors agree that in 50% of the cases the aetiology is not obvious. In this group of unknown aetiology it seemed interesting to isolate the following electroclinical form;--Epilepsy grand mal, with apparently generalized seizures; no special pathological antecedents; the neuropsychological and neurological examinations are normal, showing no intellectual disorders; the EEG generally shows slight modifications: quick rhythms, some sharp waves; a global cerebral atrophy is seen by the scanner. Such patients have been called victims of 'secondary late-onset generalized epilepsy'. They form 16% of a series of 156 epileptic patients who were over 65 years old, and 21% of our own 100 patients.