[Transient unresponsiveness of the elderly].

An 81-year-old woman was admitted for recurrent attacks of transient unresponsiveness. There was no evidence for electrolyte or metabolic disorders, arrhythmia or atypical seizures. We found reports of 5 such patients who suffered from transient unresponsiveness with no specific cause found despite thorough investigation. Suggested causes have been diffuse ischemia or a sleeping disorder. We think these attacks may occur as a result of discontinuity between the reticular formation and the cortex. One thing these patient have in common is a history of recurrent transient ischemic attacks.