Can Epilepsy Go Away?
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Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Epilepsy can be a lifelong condition, or it can resolve over time, particularly for children. While epilepsy can begin at any age, it usually is diagnosed in childhood or in people over age 60.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures. A seizure is a short burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
This article will discuss how epilepsy can progress, and the role treatment plays in remission.
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What Causes Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is considered a set of syndromes that can vary both in symptoms and in causes. It isn't always clear what causes a person to develop epilepsy, but it can be due to factors such as:
Damage to the brain: Stroke, tumor, head injury, infection, substance misuse, or other trauma to the brain may result in seizures and epilepsy. Seizures due to injury may not start immediately but occur months later
Problems before or during birth: These congenital causes include a lack of oxygen during birth or abnormal brain development.
Genetic factors: Changes in certain genes can increase the risk of epilepsy. These may be hereditary and can be part of a genetic condition with other effects.
Unknown: Up to half of people with epilepsy have no known cause for their condition.
How Epilepsy Changes With Age
The incidence of new cases of epilepsy is higher in young children, particularly those under 1 year old. Then diagnosis rates gradually decline until the rate stabilizes around age 10.
New cases then begin to rise again after age 55, primarily because rates of conditions such as stroke, brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, head injuries from falls, and other conditions that can cause epilepsy are also increased in older adults.
Epilepsy in Older Adults
Older adults are more likely to have focal seizures, which can have more subtle symptoms. Seizures in older adults may be hard to recognize or are mistakenly considered symptoms of advanced age, which can cause a diagnosis of epilepsy to be missed.
Signs of seizures in older adults that can mimic other conditions or be erroneously blamed on aging include:
Seeming to be confused (the period of confusion after a seizure can last longer in older adults than it does in young people)
Wandering
Having falls
Experiencing dizziness
Having memory problems
Experiencing sensory changes such as numbness
Making unusual movements
Being unable to answer questions or talk
If these symptoms occur more than once, particularly in the same pattern, they could indicate seizures or another condition, and the individual should be assessed by a healthcare provider.
Older adults frequently have multiple healthcare providers, often with there being little communication among providers, which can lead to important information being missed. Having a general practitioner who can act as a liaison and keep all your health information together can mitigate this.
Can Epilepsy Go Away?
In some cases, epilepsy can go away. It's more likely to happen if the epilepsy started in childhood, if the seizures are well-controlled with medication, if surgery has been performed to remove the affected brain tissue, and if the person does not have a severe epilepsy syndrome.
Factors That Increase Chance of Being Seizure Free
The chances of being seizure-free may increase with factors such as:
Age (more than half of children who are seizure-free on medication stay seizure-free when medication is stopped)
A positive response to medication
No history of brain injury or abnormality
No family history of epilepsy
A normal neurological exam and electroencephalogram (EEG)
How Many People Become Seizure-Free With Treatment?
About 70% of people with epilepsy control seizures with medications or surgery and can expect to enter remission after five or more years of being seizure-free on medication. Of those who are seizure-free on medication, about 75% will eventually be weaned off medication.
Living With Epilepsy as You Get Older
Many older adults with epilepsy continue to lead active, independent lives.
Measures to help control seizures and maximize the quality of life for older adults with epilepsy include:
Follow your treatment plan and don't change or stop taking medication without first checking with your healthcare provider.
Discuss any medication side effects or interactions with your healthcare provider and ask for an adjustment if necessary.
Talk to your pharmacist about ways to make taking your medication easier, such as weekly pill organizers, prepackaged medication packs, easy-to-open bottles, and tools to help you remember to take your medication.
Keep a seizure diary to help identify triggers such as stress, alcohol, or lack of sleep.
Avoid triggers if you know what they are.
If your seizures are not well-controlled, avoid activities that could be dangerous if you have a seizure, such as cooking, driving, or swimming.
Practice seizure safety, such as installing guards on heaters or radiators and smoke detectors, covering sharp corners on furniture, taking showers instead of baths, keeping the bathroom door unlocked, putting saucepans on the back burner and turning their handles away from the edge, and wearing a helmet for cycling, swimming with others.
If you live alone, consider using seizure alarms, fall alarms, and other devices and services that can notify emergency personnel or your emergency contacts if you have a seizure. Have a routine with neighbors or loved ones in which they check on you if they notice anything amiss, like the lights not on when they usually are.
Consider joining a support group or connecting with other older adults with epilepsy.
Working With Your Healthcare Provider to Find the Right Treatment
Being properly diagnosed is the first step toward getting the right treatment. Determining the types of seizures you are experiencing and, if possible, the cause of them can help your healthcare provider better tailor your treatments.
Tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking so that you can avoid interactions.
If you are experiencing side effects from treatment, talk to your healthcare provider. Don't skip or stop medication without the advice of your healthcare provider, as this can cause seizures to occur. Stopping medication too early may also make your seizures harder to control should you need to go back on medication.
Even if your epilepsy is well-controlled, check in with your healthcare provider at least once a year to review your treatment plan (more often if you are experiencing problems).
If your epilepsy is not well-managed with medication, you may be referred to a specialized epilepsy center. Here, you can be seen by a team of professionals with more specific expertise.
Summary
New cases of epilepsy are most common in young children and older adults, with rates lower in ages in between. In some cases, epilepsy can go away (with or without treatment), but it can also require lifelong treatment. Most people with epilepsy are able to get their seizures under control with medication.
Seizures in older adults can be subtle and therefore may be missed, mistaken for other conditions, or wrongly attributed to aging. With proper treatment and accommodations, many older adults are able to continue living independent, productive lives.
Your epilepsy may change over time, and so may your treatment needs. Regularly checking in with your healthcare provider can help ensure you are receiving the best care for your current needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you need to take seizure medicine forever?
About 75% of people with epilepsy who are seizure-free while taking medication can eventually go off their medication. Stopping epilepsy medication should always be done gradually and under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
Do seizures get worse with age?
The severity and frequency of seizures in people with epilepsy can change over time, sometimes for the worse but sometimes for the better. Because seizure activity can change as you age, it's important to check in regularly with your healthcare provider to make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.
Can you live a normal life with epilepsy?
Most people with epilepsy live the same as people without the condition. Some adjustments may need to be made, such as always swimming with others instead of alone, but people with epilepsy typically can do most activities independently.
Is there a cure for epilepsy?
There is no cure for epilepsy, but it is treatable. Most people with epilepsy are able to manage their seizures with medication, and some will go into remission.
