What causes epilepsy in middle age?

What causes epilepsy in middle age?

Brain conditions that cause damage to the brain, such as brain tumors or strokes, can cause epilepsy. Stroke is a leading cause of epilepsy in adults older than age 35. Infectious diseases. Infectious diseases, such as meningitis, AIDS and viral encephalitis, can cause epilepsy.

What is the most common cause of seizure in people over 50 years old?

The most common cause of seizure activity in seniors is cerebrovascular disease, occurring more frequently as a consequence of a hemorrhagic stroke than the nonhemorrhagic type.

What causes epilepsy in adults with no history?

Autoimmune-induced seizures in adults with no history. Seizures in adults with no seizure history can be caused by a number of factors ranging from high blood pressure, drug abuse and toxic exposures to brain injury, brain infection (encephalitis) and heart disease.

When is epilepsy most common in older people?

Epilepsy most commonly begins in childhood or in older adulthood, although it can begin at any age. People over 65 years of age have the highest incidence of epilepsy of any age, accounting for almost a quarter of cases of new onset epilepsy.

What causes seizures in people in middle age?

In middle age, strokes, tumors and injuries are more frequent. In people over 65, stroke is the most common cause of new onset seizures. Other conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions that affect brain function can also cause seizures.

When do new cases of epilepsy go down?

The rate of new cases of epilepsy gradually goes down until about age 10 and then stays about the same for teens and adults. The rate of new cases of epilepsy is also higher in people over age 55. Older adults are more likely to have a stroke or develop brain tumors or Alzheimer’s disease, which can all cause epilepsy.

Can you tell if someone has epilepsy later in life?

It isn’t always easy to tell when you or someone you care for develops epilepsy later in life. That’s because seizures may be hard to recognize in older adults and may go unnoticed.

Why are older people more likely to get epilepsy?

Older people who develop epilepsy are more likely to have focal seizures than tonic-clonic seizures. Occasionally, a focal seizure can turn in to a tonic-clonic seizure. This is when the electrical activity has spread to both halves of the brain. Why have I developed epilepsy now?

In middle age, strokes, tumors and injuries are more frequent. In people over 65, stroke is the most common cause of new onset seizures. Other conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions that affect brain function can also cause seizures.

How many people in the US have epilepsy?

Epilepsy is brain disorder that causes repeated seizures. About 3 million US adults aged 18 years or older have active epilepsy. 1 Nearly 1 million of those adults are aged 55 or older. 2 As our population ages, there will be even more older people with epilepsy in the coming years.

It isn’t always easy to tell when you or someone you care for develops epilepsy later in life. That’s because seizures may be hard to recognize in older adults and may go unnoticed.