Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that is characterised by the tendency to have reoccurring seizures.

• Approximately 50% of people who have one seizure go on to have more seizures.
• Epilepsy affects people of all ages, but is most commonly diagnosed in early childhood, adolescence and in people over the age of 65 years.

What's the risk?

Epilepsy is linked with an increased risk of death — the risk is 2–3 times greater than for those who don't have epilepsy.

• People with epilepsy are 2–3 times more likely to have 40 or more unhealthy days per year in those without.

Looking to the Future.

The idea that epilepsy is a young person's disorder is now rapidly fading, with those over the age of 55 years now being recognised as a highly vulnerable demographic. This is due in part to the fact that individuals over 55 years old are more likely to experience cerebrovascular, respiratory and cardiac events that can lead to epileptic seizures. — Epilepsy Australia May 2018