[Epilepsies and epileptic attacks in the elderly]

Epilepsies and epileptic seizures seldom occur firstly in aged people. Clinically these seizures are not different from those of children, adolescents and younger adults, except from pycnoleptic petit-mal almost never manifestating firstly in the elderly. If etiologic factors often remain unknown, cerebral tumors, even if they are rare, must always be suspected. Cerebro-vascular and cerebro-metabolic diseases, head injuries, abuse of alcohol, and medicaments may be responsible for the first manifestation of epileptic seizures in the aged. Degenerative brain diseases sometimes are responsible for epileptic seizures and epilepsies in elderly people. But even if an epileptic seizures is insured, metabolic diseases (e.g., hypoglycemia) or heart diseases must be considered, because they may lead eventually to the manifestation of epileptic seizures.