How to recognize epilepsy, the third disease most common in people over 65

How to recognize the symptoms of epilepsy, the third disease most common in people over 65freepick

According to the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), about 500,000 people suffer in Spain epilepsya disease caused by changes in the electrical activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex, which causes repeated spontaneous seizures.

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Every year 20 thousand new cases are diagnosed in our country.

How does he explain it to us? Dr. Juan Jose PozaCoordinator of the SEN Epilepsy Research Group, “By the arrangement of neurons in which this change occurs, we can classify epilepsy as focal, where it affects only a limited group of neurons, or generalized.”

From 20 to 30% of epileptic seizures manifest themselves as:

• Capture with loss of consciousness (perhaps the most well-known form)

• Report absence

• Lack of response to stimuli

• Auras or vision problems

• tingling or repetitive automatic movements

The big challenge in epilepsy: controlling seizures when they are drug-resistant

Correct diagnosis allows you to avoid concomitant diseases associated with epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a disease that is not easy to recognize

However, the heterogeneity of symptoms means that in many cases epilepsy becomes a disease that is not easily recognized. In fact, SEN estimates that the delay in diagnosis of this condition can be up to 10 years. and quantity false positives scale up to 18%.

People with epilepsy live fewer years

The first step for proper treatment of epilepsy, the specialist emphasizes, is to perform diagnostic tests for all patients suspected of having this diseasemainly with long-term video-EEG monitoring.

• “Only with proper diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of the disease will we be able to address the multiple neurobiological, cognitive, psychological and social consequences of this disease.”

According to various studies conducted in Europe, “it is estimated that 50% of patients live in conditions of stigma, their life expectancy is reduced by 2 to 10 years, and their mortality rate is 2-3 times higher than that of the general population.” general”.

Additionally, “epilepsy is a disease with significant social and health implications. In addition, 60% of patients are associated with others concomitant diseases such as mental disorders, neurological or intellectuals”

Only 30% of patients with epilepsy suffer from loss of consciousness and seizures.

70% of patients control epileptic seizures

World Health Organization (WHO) also indicates that epilepsy is the second neurological disease in terms of years of life potentially lost or lived with disability.

However, the quality of life of patients with epilepsy is directly related to the severity and frequency of attacks, as well as their response to treatment.

Over the past decades, the number of available antiepileptic drugs has increased significantly, and about 70% of patients can control their seizures with available treatments. In addition, approximately one 5% of patients with epilepsy may also benefit from surgery..

There is still a high percentage of drug-resistant patients who do not respond adequately to treatment.

However, there is still a high percentage of drug-resistant patients who do not respond adequately to treatment.

Epileptic seizures are a common cause of hospitalization in emergency departments. They make up between 1 and 3% of total annual income and, according to SEN, up to 20% of all neurological care urgent. Additionally, 15% to 35% of patients presenting to emergency hospitals for seizures are patients with previously diagnosed epilepsy.

Pregnancy is not contraindicated for women with epilepsy.

When epilepsy appears: it affects older people too

Although epilepsy can appear at any age, its incidence is higher in children and people over 65 years of age: it most common neurological disease in children and third most common in adults

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Various studies conducted in Europe seem to have shown a decrease in incidence among children.

Currently, about 100,000 children suffer from this disease in Spain, the number of cases in people over 65 years old epilepsy is increasing due to the aging population.

Age is a risk factor for developing the disease. In 25–40% of cases of epilepsy, the exact cause of this disease is not established. But various others risk factorssome of them can be changed.

Lack of sleep increases risk of seizures in patients with epilepsy

Trauma, tumors, or vascular problems (eg, ictus), also increasing due to the aging population, are the cause of many cases of epilepsy. In children, the onset of this disease is usually associated with changes in brain development and/or genetic causes.

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Is it possible to avoid epilepsy?

The Spanish Society of Neurology estimates that “3% of the Spanish population will suffer from epilepsy at some point in their lives and that at least 10% will experience an epileptic seizure.”

But “about 30% of these figures can be reduced with adequate control of modifiable risk factors,” as emphasized by Dr. Juan José Poza.

• Protect yourself from head injuries

• Control vascular risk factors: proper nutrition, exercise, avoidance of alcohol, smoking…

• Follow the vaccination rules

• Good hygiene to avoid brain infections

• Maintain proper monitoring of pregnancy and labor.