Considerations in the Management of Epilepsy in the Elderly

Introduction Epilepsy in the elderly will continue to be an important topic for geriatricians and general physicians as its prevalence will inexorably augment, as will the need to make appropriate diagnostic and management decisions. Both the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy increase with age. Hauser and Kurland found a prevalence increase from 7.3 per 1,000 at ages 40–59 years to 10.2 per 1,000 in those older than 60 years.1 Their study also found the annual incidence per 100,000 to climb from 11.9 at 40–59 years to 82.0 at 60 plus years. Incidence climbs to over 100 at age 80.2 Combined with an aging population, these epidemiological data establish epilepsy as an increasingly prominent health care issue.