Abstract Details

Title How Common Are Idiopathic Seizures in the Elderly? A Retrospective Review.

Topic Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG)

Presentation(s) P2 - Poster Session 2 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 6-030

Objective To identify the prevalence of idiopathic late onset seizures

Background Epilepsy has a bimodal distribution with a first peak within the first years of life and a second peak occurring after the age of 65. The most common etiology attributed to this second peak is cerebrovascular disease with a significant proportion with no identifiable cause. The goal of the current study is to evaluate the different etiologies of late onset seizures (LOS) and to identify the percentage of idiopathic cases.

Design/Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review covering a 10-year period

(2005–2015) of outpatient and inpatient records at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Faulkner Hospital using a research patient data registry tool. The search was restricted to subjects older than 65 who had ICD diagnosis codes consistent with epilepsy or transient alteration of awareness. Subjects were included if age of onset was ≥60 and there was enough data regarding the circumstances and work up of their seizures. The etiologies were then divided into cerebrovascular, neoplastic, toxic/metabolic, traumatic, infectious, and idiopathic.

Results A total of 10,090 charts covering a 10-year period were reviewed. Of the charts analyzed, 6,550 were excluded due to insufficient information (1,826), non-epileptic events (3573), or onset <60 (1,151). Of the remaining 3540 subjects, 40.4% of seizures were due to cerebrovascular disease, 22.6% neoplastic, 18.9% idiopathic, 6.7% toxic/metabolic, 4.6% traumatic, , 3% infectious, 3% due to miscellaneous etiologies, and 1% were unprovoked seizures in the setting of a known dementia.

Conclusions In a retrospective review of outpatient and inpatient records of subjects with LOS, 40% were due to cerebrovascular disease while 19 % did not have a clear etiology. Given the aging of the population and the increase in prevalence of LOS further research is needed to better characterize this patient population.

Authors/Disclosures
Louis M. Beers, MD PRESENTER	Mr. Beers has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Rani A. Sarkis, MD, MSc (Brigham and Women'S)	The institution of Dr. Sarkis has received research support from NINDS.

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