Abstract
Epilepsies with identified cause represent about 36% of all late onset epilepsies (> 18 years). This percentage is higher in late adult life (> 40 years) than in early adult life (18-40 years). Predominant aetiology is head injury, in the former period and cerebrovascular disease in the latter one. Brain tumors show a similar percentage. The remaining aetiologies (inflammatory, post-encephalopathic, degenerative) have a low incidence (about 2%). Idiopathic epileptic syndromes (Awakening Grand Mal, Benigne Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile Absence Epilepsy) rarely begin in adult life (about 4% of the late onset epilepsies). Tumoral, vascular and multiple sclerosis aetiologies were examined in detail. From this review it appears that about 60% of adult life epilepsies still show an unidentified cause. This surprising data requires further investigations.
| Translated title of the contribution | Aetiology of adult life epilepsies: A review of the literature |
|---|---|
| Original language | Italian |
| Pages (from-to) | 111-118 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Bollettino - Lega Italiana contro l'Epilessia |
| Volume | NO.51-52 |
| Publication status | Published - 1985 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology