Mega Doctor News
By the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
Newswise – MINNEAPOLIS – A new study published December 23, 2025 in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, looks at how age can affect the recovery of people with spinal cord injuries.
“With population growth and improvements in medicine, the number of people diagnosed with spinal cord injury is increasing and the average age at the time of injury is increasing,” said study author Chiara Pavese, MD, PhD, of the University of Pavia in Pavia, Italy. “Despite substantial advances in medicine and surgery in recent decades, the recovery rate after spinal cord injury remains the same. Our results can help researchers design age-appropriate studies to evaluate new therapies and approaches for people with spinal cord injury.”
The researchers found that advanced age does not appear to affect neurological recovery in areas such as motor and sensory abilities. But the study found that older people had worse recovery in functional areas such as the ability to care for themselves with tasks such as feeding, bathing, bladder and bowel control, and mobility. They also had worse recovery on tests of walking ability, such as how fast a person can walk a short distance, with or without assistance, such as a cane.
The study included 2,171 people with an average age of 47 years, who were admitted to spinal units participating in the European Multicenter Spinal Cord Injury Study. People were followed for a year after their injury. During that time, their skills were put to the test. The researchers looked for relationships between age and how much their skills recovered over the year.
There was no relationship between age and neurological outcomes, including upper and lower body strength and the ability to feel a light touch or prick.
However, the researchers found that older people were more likely to have worse functional recovery than younger people. In a test of independence in activities of daily living such as feeding, bathing, bladder and bowel management, and mobility, overall scores ranged from zero to 100, with a higher score indicating better recovery. Participants’ scores at the time they were admitted to the spinal care unit after injury averaged 31 points. After one year, scores averaged 35 points. The researchers found that each decade of aging was associated with a 4.3-point reduction on the test. Older people had less improvement on all walking tests than younger people.
These results took into account the type of spinal cord injury people had and its severity.
The researchers also found a notable reduction in functional recovery in people over 70 years of age.
“People over 70 need specific rehabilitation approaches that take into account other conditions they may be living with, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or osteoporosis, and help them with recovery that applies to their daily lives,” Pavese said.
A limitation of the study was that a substantial number of people in the original database were no longer included after one year and limited information was available about the reasons they left the study or whether they died during that time. It is possible that people who dropped out of the study or died differed as a group from people who remained in the study, which could affect the results.
The study was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Wings for Life Research Foundation, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, and the Italian Ministry of Health.
Find out more about spinal cord injury in Brain & Life® from the American Academy of Neurology. This resource also offers a website, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers, and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, directly from the world’s leading brain health experts. Follow Brain & Life® on Facebook, X and Instagram.
The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice on brain health. As the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 40,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN’s mission is to enhance members’ professional fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of diseases of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.
Explore the latest in neurological diseases and brain health, from the minds of the AAN at AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
