Research issues in aging studies associated with SCI

Abstract

There are many research issues associated with the scientific study of aging in the general population that also relate to the study of aging with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the recognition of these issues has been limited in SCI aging research. These issues, which include era and survivor effects, have implications for design, analysis, and interpretation of SCI aging research, which, in turn, have implications for planning, policy, and development of long- and short-term clinical intervention strategies. Several factors specifically relate to SCI that have implications for design, analysis, and interpretation of SCI aging research. These include duration of injury, age at injury, and neurological impairment or level and completeness of injury.