It is now appreciated that spinal cord injury (SCI) affects both the quality and rate of the aging process. This may manifest with age-related complications in the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or integumentary systems. In addition, persons with SCI may experience psychosocial and functional changes that are related to aging. Individuals injured at a younger age will experience a correspondingly longer exposure to this aging--disability interaction. Persons with SCI and their caregivers should be aware of the known effects of aging with this disability and design the plan of care to lessen the impact whenever possible. This article will provide an overview of aging with SCI and suggest areas warranting special attention in the care of those injured at a younger age.

aging, paraplegia, spinal cord injury, tetraplegia
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