Epilepsy, surgery, and the elderly
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes
Published on: October 2, 2014
1Department of Neurology University of Miami, School of Medicine, 1501 NW 9th Ave., 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33136, USA. bvgallo@aol.com
Abstract:
Treatment of elderly patients with epilepsy may present unique challenges to physicians. Co-morbid conditions and drugs to treat such conditions are common in elderly patients, possibly complicating epilepsy therapies that are dependent on drugs alone. For this reason, surgical intervention may be an attractive option for elderly patients with epilepsy, particularly for medically intractable patients with key disease features, such as lateralization and precisely localized epileptic foci. Curative procedures, including lobectomy and lesionectomy, are most likely to lead to seizure freedom, but not all patients are candidates for such procedures. When a curative surgical procedure is not an option, palliative procedures, including vagus nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation, may be viable options. Vagus nerve stimulation has been reported to reduce seizure rates and improve quality of life in elderly patients with epilepsy. Currently, widespread therapeutic application of deep brain stimulation is limited by risks, costs, and pending studies.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures l: Introduction
Epilepsy ll: Types
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

