Tasmania has the highest prevalence of epilepsy in Australia, according to new research, which shows the neurological condition is the second-most burdensome to live with, after dementia. Released on Monday, the Epilepsy – A Focus on Tasmania report from Epilepsy Tasmania provides new insights into epilepsy, comparing Tasmanian statistics against national and international data.
It found people with epilepsy die at three times the rate of the general population and at an average age of 52, compared to the average life expectancy of 80 to 84 years of age.
In schools, epilepsy is now the third most common health condition after diabetes, asthma, and is one of the top five avoidable causes of death among five to 29-year-olds.