Events

Epilepsy in Older Adults with Dr. Rani Sarkis 

Rani Sarkis MD, MSc. graduated from a combined MD/MSc. program from the American University of Beirut. He then completed neurology residency at the Cleveland Clinic, a 2-year fellowship in clinical neurophysiology/epilepsy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a fellowship in behavioral neurology/neuropsychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. He evaluates patients at Brigham and Women’s and South Shore Hospital and is also director of neurophysiology education for neurology residents at BWH. His areas of expertise and research interests include epilepsy in the elderly, seizures in dementia, memory and concentration difficulties in patients with epilepsy, cognitive complications after epilepsy surgery, and autoimmune epilepsy.  He has received funding from the NIH and the American Epilepsy Society Junior Investigator Award to study late onset unexplained epilepsy.

 •  Epilepsy affects more than 3.4 million individuals in the United States, including close to 1 million older adults (age 55+). 

•  The incidence of seizures and epilepsy increases in older adults. 

•  Each year, more than 50,000 new cases of epilepsy occur in people over age 60. 

•  Eight in 10 adults aged 65 or older have more than one chronic health condition. 

•  It can be hard to balance epilepsy treatment with taking medicines for other health problems. 

•  Many epilepsy medicines also have side effects such as bone loss or dizziness, which can make someone more likely to fall and become injured. 

•  Signs and symptoms of seizures in older adults 

•  Causes of epilepsy in older adults 

•  In 1 out of 2 older adults, the cause of epilepsy is unknown.