Depends - some forms of epilepsy are lifelong, some show up early in life, then seemingly disappear. Others can be late-onset. If the report is true and this pilot has the latter form, then my heart goes out to them - because it could be a career-ender.
(I was told this by my cousin, who suffered from a type that arises in childhood, but in her case was treated at the time and she has not suffered an episode since adolescence...)