Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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.

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...

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...

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...

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:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Pharmacokinetic variability and complex two-way interactions with cenobamate in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Epilepsia·2026

Same author

Well preserved versus severely impaired memory 10-44 years after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery: "How did the patients get there?"

Seizure·2026

Same author

Executive dysfunction and employment in epilepsy.

Epilepsia·2026

Same author

A life without a past.

Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke·2026

Same author

Epilepsy and marriage - the story of the abolition of laws that discriminated people with epilepsy in Norway.

Seizure·2025

Same author

Is it possible to sneeze your way out of epilepsy?

Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

[Epilepsy in the elderly].

Karl O Nakken¹, Erik Sætre, Rune Markhus

¹Avdeling for kompleks epilepsi - SSE, Klinikk for kirurgi og nevrofag, Oslo universitetssykehus, Norway. karl.otto.nakken@ous-hf.no

Tidsskrift for Den Norske Laegeforening : Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin, Ny Raekke

|March 7, 2013

Summary

Managing epilepsy in elderly patients requires special care due to physiological changes. This review offers guidance for diagnosing and treating geriatric epilepsy, emphasizing individualized care.

More Related Videos

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

Long-term Continuous EEG Monitoring in Small Rodent Models of Human Disease Using the Epoch Wireless Transmitter System

Long-term Continuous EEG Monitoring in Small Rodent Models of Human Disease Using the Epoch Wireless Transmitter System

Published on: July 21, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

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

Long-term Continuous EEG Monitoring in Small Rodent Models of Human Disease Using the Epoch Wireless Transmitter System

Long-term Continuous EEG Monitoring in Small Rodent Models of Human Disease Using the Epoch Wireless Transmitter System

Published on: July 21, 2015

Area of Science:

Neurology
Geriatrics

Background:

Epilepsy is a common and rising neurological condition in individuals over 65.
Geriatric epilepsy diagnosis and treatment present unique challenges.
De novo epilepsy incidence is increasing in the elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide comprehensive guidance on managing epilepsy in elderly patients.
To address the specific diagnostic and therapeutic needs of geriatric epilepsy.
To offer a review for clinicians dealing with epilepsy in older adults.

Main Methods:

A discretionary selection of original articles and reviews.
PubMed searches using terms 'epilepsy' and 'elderly'.
Inclusion of authors' personal clinical experience.

Main Results:

Focal seizures are common and often overlooked or misdiagnosed in the elderly.
Cerebrovascular disease is a primary cause in approximately 50% of cases.
Anticonvulsant selection must consider age-related physiological changes and comorbidities, necessitating low starting doses and slow titration due to a narrower therapeutic window and increased side effect susceptibility.

Conclusions:

Epilepsy management in the elderly differs significantly from younger populations.
Further research specifically targeting geriatric epilepsy is essential.
Avoidance of enzyme-inducing drugs (e.g., phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine) is generally recommended due to high interaction potential.