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Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...

Epilepsy ll: Types

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.

Seizures: Classification

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
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:

Seizures l: Introduction

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

[Epilepsy in the elderly].

Revital Gandelman-Marton¹, Miri Y Neufeld

¹Department of Neurology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin. revitalgm@hotmail.com

|March 27, 2009

Summary

Epilepsy in the elderly is rising. Careful management of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and considering surgery are key for better seizure control in older adults.

Area of Science:

Geriatric neurology
Epileptology

Context:

The elderly population with epilepsy is growing due to aging demographics.
Cerebrovascular disease is the primary cause of seizures in this group.
Complex partial seizures (CPS) are most common, but presentation differs from younger adults.

Purpose:

To review epilepsy management in the elderly.
To highlight diagnostic challenges and age-related pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic changes in antiepileptic drug (AED) use.
To discuss therapeutic strategies and surgical candidacy.

Summary:

Elderly epilepsy patients experience altered pharmacokinetics, necessitating careful AED monitoring.
Newer AEDs are better tolerated and have fewer interactions.
Monotherapy is preferred, and elderly patients often achieve better seizure control than younger individuals.

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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

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Refractory epilepsy cases may benefit from surgical intervention.

Impact:

Optimized AED selection and dosing can improve seizure control and reduce adverse events in elderly patients.
Understanding age-related changes is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Surgical options offer favorable outcomes for select elderly patients with epilepsy.