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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,...

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...

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 ll: Types

Seizures ll: Types

Seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that interfere with normal function. They are commonly divided into three groups: focal seizures, generalized seizures, and other types that do not fit neatly into either category.Focal SeizuresFocal seizures begin in a single brain region. When awareness is preserved, they are called focal aware seizures and may cause sensations such as tingling, unusual smells, or flashing lights. When awareness is impaired, they are...

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.

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

Published on: January 19, 2019

Seizure semiology and aging.

Diosely C Silveira¹, Lara Jehi, Jessica Chapin

¹Neurological Institute, Epilepsy Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. dsilve55@gmail.com

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B

|January 29, 2011

Summary

Epilepsy in older adults may be missed due to subtle confusion symptoms. This study found few differences in seizure presentation between older and younger epilepsy patients, highlighting diagnostic challenges in the elderly.

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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

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Published on: January 19, 2019

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Published on: July 8, 2025

Area of Science:

Neurology
Geriatric Medicine

Background:

Epilepsy is common in older adults but often underdiagnosed.
Diagnostic challenges in the elderly contribute to undertreatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare seizure semiology in older versus younger adults with epilepsy.
To identify potential differences that may explain diagnostic difficulties in the elderly.

Main Methods:

Retrospective review of medical records for 50 older (≥55 years) and 50 younger (18-45 years) adult patients with focal epilepsy.
Detailed analysis of seizure descriptions to compare semiology between age groups.

Main Results:

No significant differences in overall seizure semiology were found between older and younger adults.
Older patients exhibited subtle transient confusion, not observed in younger patients (P=0.0028).
Older patients had fewer generalized motor seizures, though not statistically significant (P=0.01).

Conclusions:

Subtle confusion may be a key seizure symptom in older adults with epilepsy.
These subtle symptoms can complicate epilepsy diagnosis in the elderly population.
Further research is needed to improve epilepsy diagnosis and management in older individuals.