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| Temporal lobe epilepsy [19–21] | CPSs are common while auras and automatisms are not as common as in younger age groups. Brief gaps in conversation or periods of confusion may be only manifestation. Patients are frequently not aware of having seizures. Stroke is the most common cause in this age group. However, idiopathic cases have been reported. |
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| Limbic encephalitis (LE) [8, 10] | Rapid progressive short-term memory deficit, with psychiatric symptoms consisting of irritability, depression, sleep disturbances, and hallucinations. CPSs more often than any other seizure types. Repetitive questioning may happen. CSF with increased proteins and lymphocytic pleocytosis. Temporal lobe abnormalities on EEG and MRI. Bilateral MTS not infrequent in nonparaneoplastic or paraneoplastic LE. May evolve to encephalomyelitis, decreased level of consciousness and refractory seizures. Antineuronal antibodies have been associated to underlying malignancy; anti-Hu (SCLC), anti-Ma2 (testis or other), CV2/CRMP5 (SCLC, thymoma), antiamphiphysin (breast, SCLC), anti-Ri (carcinoid), anti-VGKC (thymoma, SCLC, other), and anti-NMDA (ovary). |
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| Dementia [22, 23] | Gradual cognitive decline interfering with independence due to; memory, abnormalities; personality or behavioral changes; reasoning and judgment abnormalities; impaired language functions or visual spatial skills. Uncommon partial seizure or GTCSs. Intermittent memory lapse that may be confused with CPSs. EEG diffuse slowing more often than focal abnormalities. |
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| Transient ischemic attack [24, 25] | Sudden focal neurological dysfunction resulting from cerebral or retinal ischemia with clinical symptoms lasting less than 24 hours but frequently resolving within one hour. No evidence of cerebral infarction. Early CPSs are very rare after TIA. EEG abnormalities with temporary speech dysfunction and amnesia may represent focal inhibitory seizures. |
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| Transient global amnesia [26] | Sudden transitory anterograde and retrograde memory loss or forming of new memories. Episodes last for less than 24 hours. Same question repeated over and over. A precipitating factor is common. Permanent residual memory gap after recovery. Awareness is spared. No aphasia or apraxia or focal neurological deficits. No seizures and normal EEG. |
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| Delirium [27, 28] | Acute confusional state, altered awareness, fluctuating course, cognitive disturbance and difficulty maintaining attention. In elders hypoactive delirium is more common than hyperactive type. Disorientation, language impairment, and memory deficits. Sleep cycle disturbances or reversal. Intermittent fear, paranoia, anxiety, depression, irritability, anger or euphoria. Common in older and/or hospitalized patients. Frequent multiple predisposing factors. Diffuse slowing on EEG. |
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| Epileptic transient amnesia [10, 29] | Recurrent episodes of memory deficits with long-term forgetting and remote autobiographical memory loss. Oral automatisms and olfactory hallucinations. More common in middle-to-old-aged men. Medial temporal lobe atrophy on MRI and epileptiform abnormalities present. Impressive response to antiepileptic treatment. |
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