Aug. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Mah-jong, the popular Chinese domino- like tile game, has been found to cause epileptic seizures, according to research reported in the Hong Kong Medical Journal.

A study released in the August edition of the journal reported 23 cases of mah-jong-induced seizures. Epilepsy sparked by the tile game is a rare condition only recently recognized, the report said.

Of the 23 reported cases, three were in Hong Kong and 20 in Taiwan, the journal said. Only two of the cases were female patients. The mean age of the seizure patients was 54 years-old, and the frequency of attacks ranged from once every three years to more than 30 a year, the report said.

The study found the affliction can be spurred by critical thinking and decision making. Refraining from playing and even watching the game is the best way for patients to control seizures, the report said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Laurie Burkitt in Hong Kong at lburkitt@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 2, 2007 23:18 EDT