Aging with a Spinal Cord Injury: What Recent Research Shows

Most people with spinal cord injury (SCI) can expect to live into their 60s and 70s, which is quite different than 40 years ago. The issue of aging with SCI has therefore arrived. This article reviews concepts of aging; methodological issues; and the principal medical, functional, and psychosocial changes that occur. Many premature health complications have been documented medically. Functional changes involve the onset of new pain, fatigue, and weakness and changes in daily activities. The maintenance of quality of life and the topic of caregiving are important psychosocial considerations. The future will see a need for more emphasis on aging issues in SCI and more training about it.