Seizure disorders: the changes with age.

Age has a profound influence on our approach to the convulsive disorders. Age is a variable which is an important determinant for risk factors for epilepsy. Age, as a surrogate of brain maturation, is a determinant of the specific characteristics of the seizure disorder in those with epilepsy, and age-related changes in these manifestations can be identified. Age is a determinant for the occurrence of acute symptomatic seizures in several types of metabolic or central nervous system insults. Age is a determinant for prognosis, whether one considers remission, medication withdrawal in those entering remission, relapse following prolonged remission, or mortality. Last, age per se seems to be a risk factor for epilepsy independent of other factors. This seems particularly true for partial seizures.