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.
Hauser
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G. H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology