Overview
- Epilepsy incidence among adults 65 and older is highest in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, East Texas and central Oklahoma, according to JAMA Neurology.
- Researchers used machine-learning models on 2016–2019 Medicare and AHRQ data to produce the first nationwide map of county-level incidence in older adults.
- The strongest associations with higher incidence included insufficient sleep, more days with a heat index above 95 degrees, lower physical activity, limited household vehicle access and higher uninsurance rates before Medicare eligibility.
- Authors emphasize the findings are observational but point to opportunities for heat resilience, sleep health initiatives, and improved access to primary care and transportation in high-burden communities.
- Epilepsy affects an estimated 3.3 million people in the U.S., with 2019 spending on epilepsy and seizures reaching about $24.5 billion, highlighting the public-health stakes.