Diagnosing epilepsy in older adults: what does it mean for the primary care physician?

Acute and chronic seizures (epilepsy) occur frequently in older adults. However, despite their high prevalence, the condition is often overlooked or misdiagnosed because seizures mimic other common spells in the aged. The causes of seizures in older adults are often the sequelae of highly prevalent conditions that occur in this age group, eg, stroke, dementia, and head trauma. Recognizing and correctly diagnosing seizures can lead to a number of effective treatments. This article reviews the causes and presentation of seizures in older adults and offers an approach for diagnosis.