Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
331132 Neurobiology of Aging 2010 13 Pages PDF
Abstract

Given the potential impact of age on mortality, neurological outcomes and the extent of post-traumatic neural degeneration, we examined these issues using a large, prospectively accrued clinical database (n = 485) supplemented by analysis of postmortem spinal cord tissue (n = 12) to compare axonal survival and white matter degeneration in younger versus elderly individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Elderly individuals (≥65 years) had significantly greater mortality rates than younger individuals at 30 days, at 6 months and at 1 year following SCI (46.88% versus 4.86%, respectively; p < 0.0001). However, among survivors, age was not significantly associated with motor and sensory outcomes at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year post-SCI in univariate and multivariate analyses. Correspondingly, neuroanatomical analysis of postmortem spinal cord tissue revealed no significant age-related differences for extent of myelin degeneration or number of intact axons within sensory, motor and autonomic spinal cord tracts post-SCI. Treatment protocols for SCI need to identify preventable predictors of mortality in the elderly post-SCI, recognizing that the potential for neurological recovery among elderly survivors of SCI is similar to that of younger individuals.

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Life Sciences Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Ageing
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