Late-onset epilepsy associated with untreated obstructive sleep apnea: A case report and literature review

Approximately one-quarter of people with epilepsy will experience their first seizure in later adulthood, and up to almost 40% of these individuals will have no clear seizure etiology despite extensive investigation.Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which becomes increasingly prevalent with age, may contribute to seizure facilitation in susceptible individuals.OSA treatment has been demonstrated to decrease interictal activity and improve seizure control, and as a modifiable risk factor, should be evaluated in patients with late-onset seizures.The following case describes a patient who presented with overt symptoms of late-onset epilepsy after being diagnosed with OSA, with further seizure exacerbation during noncompliance with continuous positive airway pressure therapy.