Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition resulting in varying degrees of functional impairment and exhibits only limited repair. Currently there is no cure for SCI, and no proven treatment to promote restoration of function. One area that has received extensive attention, with the goal of promoting functional recovery, is promoting axonal regeneration and growth in the injured cord. However, one factor that is likely to impede the translation of promising restorative therapies from the bench to the clinic is the lack of consideration of the aging factor in SCI research and its impact on axon regeneration in particular.