FITS AND FAINTS IN THE ELDERLY

The important differential diagnosis between epileptogenic versus non-epileptogenic attacks becomes increasingly difficult with elderly patients: 1) Vasovagal syncopes may accur abruptly, not infrequently with injuries caused by the sudden fall ("Blitz-Synkope"). Other generalized non-epileptic seizures include drop-attacks, amnesic episodes, prolonged syncopes, and seizures caused by faulty metabolism. 2) Focal non-epileptic seizures in advanced age are mainly TIA and prolonged TIA (PRIND). Complicated migraine is more typical for the younger age group. In this connection it must be kept in mind that 10% of TIA are caused by brain tumor, 20% can be traced to cardiac origin. 3) In connection with the non-epileptic seizures mentioned above there may appear singular irregular cloni without any rhythmical sequence. We have come to call this type of attacks "incidental convulsions". Especially in these cases differential diagnosis is of great importance with respect to basically different therapeutic measures. 4) First manifestations of epilepsy in advanced age are - regarding etiology - in the first rank symptoms of cerebral vascular disease or of intracranial tumors. 5) In the diagnostic approach it is necessary to keep in mind all the above-mentioned possibilities and to exploit every possible access to anamnestic exploration, with the patient as well as with his family, friends and colleagues. Essential auxiliary diagnostic methods include EEG, computed tomography, Doppler-sonography, occasionally long-time EEG or ECG, in some cases NMR.