Age affects seizure triggers

An Australian study of people with epilepsy has found age is associated with differences in seizure symptoms and triggers. The researchers from the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria examined the results of a seizure prediction tool questionnaire that was filled out by 225 Victorians. Nearly 87% of the participants reported experiencing at least one symptom prior to a seizure, with the most frequent symptoms being funny feeling (68%), confusion (52%), and anxiety (46%). People who experienced a funny feeling, confusion, trembling, irritability, childish behaviour, anxiety, speech disturbance, headache, nausea, anger, and limb weakness symptoms were younger than those that did not experience these symptoms, the study authors found. Furthermore, those who did not experience any symptoms were older than those who did experience symptoms prior to seizures. Nearly 90% of the participants reported experiencing at least one seizure that was triggered by something, with the most frequent triggers for the total sample being tiredness (65%), stress (64%), and sleep deprivation (55%). Younger participants were more likely to report tiredness, sleep deprivation, cooking, stress, missing medication, medication change, television, illegal drugs, sexual intercourse, self-induced, heat/humidity, alcohol, work activity, and a feeling of low blood sugar as triggers of seizures compared with older participants. Women also reported statistically significantly more triggers than men (mean, 8.04 vs 6.13). While overall nearly 70% of participants reported attempting to use techniques to stop their seizures, only 24% indicated they had been successful in doing so. The study authors noted that other studies (of non-Australian people with epilepsy) had reported rates of seizure self-control of over 50%, although they said that such results seemed influenced by cultural contexts. “This… study has shown that there are differences due to age and gender that should be given more consideration in dispensing information about epilepsy [in Australia],” the authors concluded. Epilepsy and Behaviour, published online....