Which three factors are commonly precipitating factors for seizures in adults?

• A. Sleep deprivation; Alcohol/benzodiazepine withdrawal; Fever/infection
• B. Excess sleep; High-dose vitamin C; Hearing loss
• C. Regular exercise; Adequate sleep; Balanced meals
• D. Vaccination; Sun exposure; Reading

Answer: (A)

Seizure precipitants in adults commonly include sleep loss, withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines, and fever or infection. Lack of sleep heightens cortical excitability and reduces the brain’s ability to regulate firing, which lowers the threshold for seizures in people with epilepsy or other brain irritants. Withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines disrupts the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain; as GABAergic inhibition drops, neurons become more prone to synchronous firing, often leading to withdrawal seizures within hours to a couple of days depending on the substance. Fever or infection adds metabolic and inflammatory stress, and cytokines can alter neurotransmitter systems, further tipping the balance toward seizures in susceptible individuals.

The other options don’t fit as typical triggers: factors like excessive sleep or protective lifestyle habits (regular exercise, adequate sleep, balanced meals) generally reduce seizure risk rather than provoke it. Vaccination, sun exposure, or reading are not recognized common precipitants in adults.