Partial epilepsy of long duration: changing semiology with age

There are few data on changing patterns of localization-related epileptic syndromes with time and particularly on changes in seizure semiology as patients age. We retrospectively reviewed 53 patients aged > 60 years who had had partial epileptic seizures for a mean duration of 44 years. In 29 patients, seizures became progressively less elaborate and briefer with time. In 20 patients, seizures were unchanged. In four patients, seizures worsened, with the appearance of drop attacks, secondarily generalized seizures, increasing drug resistance, and mental deterioration. These latter 4 patients had cerebrovascular disease with multiple strokes.