Not everyone who has a stroke will develop seizures, but it is a real risk worth understanding. Stroke is actually one of the leading known causes of epilepsy in adults, especially in people over 60. There are two types of post-stroke seizures (PSS):
- Early onset – occurs within the first 24 hours to two weeks after a Show Full Answer
Not everyone who has a stroke will develop seizures, but it is a real risk worth understanding. Stroke is actually one of the leading known causes of epilepsy in adults, especially in people over 60. There are two types of post-stroke seizures (PSS):
- Early onset – occurs within the first 24 hours to two weeks after a stroke
- Late onset – occurs more than two weeks after a stroke
Around 4% to 10% of stroke survivors experience early onset seizures. If seizures keep happening after the first event, this can lead to a diagnosis of post-stroke epilepsy (PSE). Some strokes carry a higher risk than others. A hemorrhagic stroke (where a blood vessel bursts) nearly doubles the risk of seizures compared to other stroke types.
Stroke-related brain damage can create scar tissue that disrupts the brain's electrical signals — and that disruption is what can trigger seizures. The good news is that post-stroke epilepsy can usually be managed with anti-seizure medications, just like other forms of epilepsy. A neurologist would typically oversee this treatment. If you're on other medications, it's really important to flag potential interactions with your doctor.
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How Stroke Can Lead to Epilepsy
July 20
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