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Aging and the Epidemiology of Epilepsy
Beghi E, Giussani G.. Neuroepidemiology, 2018-09-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Epilepsy is a chronic disorder affecting all ages but with a peak in the elderly. The association of epilepsy with age can be explained by the predominance of brain diseases with epileptogenic potential (mostly stroke and dementia) and by the effects of the aging process through a number of molecular mechanisms involving networks of neurons with focal or diffuse distribution. Summary The prevalence of active epilepsy is 6.4 per 1,000 and the lifetime prevalence is 7.6 per 1,000. The prevalence tends to increase with age, with peaks in the oldest age groups and in socially deprived individuals. The incidence of epilepsy is 61.4 per 100,000 person-years. Epilepsy has a bimodal distribution according to age with peaks in the youngest individuals and in the elderly. The increased incidence of seizures and epilepsy in the elderly can be attributed to the increase of age-related and aging-related epileptogenic conditions. Key Messages: As the world population is steadily growing with parallel increase in the number of aged subjects, in the future, epilepsy will represent a huge burden for the society. Measures must thus be taken to prevent seizures and epilepsy through the reduction of preventable epileptogenic factors.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Beghi, E., & Giussani, G. (2018). Aging and the Epidemiology of Epilepsy. Neuroepidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000493484
Vancouver
Beghi E, Giussani G. Aging and the Epidemiology of Epilepsy. Neuroepidemiology. 2018. doi:10.1159/000493484. PMID: 30253417.
BibTeX
@article{beghi2018-30253417,
author = {Beghi, E. and Giussani, G.},
title = {{Aging and the Epidemiology of Epilepsy}},
journal = {Neuroepidemiology},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1159/000493484},
pmid = {30253417},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000493484}
}
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Key findings
- The incidence of epilepsy is 61.4 per 100,000 person-years.
- Epilepsy has a bimodal distribution according to age with peaks in the youngest individuals and in the elderly.
- The increased incidence of seizures and epilepsy in the elderly can be attributed to the increase of age-related and aging-related epileptogenic conditions.
- Key Messages: As the world population is steadily growing with parallel increase in the number of aged subjects, in the future, epilepsy will represent a huge burden for the society.
- Measures must thus be taken to prevent seizures and epilepsy through the reduction of preventable epileptogenic factors.
Why it matters
This review describes the epidemiology of epilepsy in aging populations, noting that increased seizures in the elderly can be attributed to age-related conditions including stroke and dementia. It is about epilepsy and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuroepidemiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Neuroepidemiology: journal h-index 125 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 213 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 21.3 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 92 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Giorgia Giussani: h-index 49 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research: institution h-index 755 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30253417) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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