At the conclusion of this session, the participants will be able to:

1. Outline changing trends in the demographics and epidemiology of spinal cord injury with a focus on age and gender.
2. Differentiate the concepts of aging and ageism with particular focus on the care of elderly individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury.
3. Appraise the potential influence of age at time of injury on the clinical outcomes following traumatic spinal cord injury.
4. Summarize the current knowledge with regard to the influence of age on neurological recovery and axonal survival after traumatic spinal cord injury.
5. Identify potential confounders that may affect clinical and neurological outcomes of spinal cord injured individuals.