Remarkably, SCF+G-CSF treatment beginning at 3.5 months after stroke in aged mice increases mushroom spines and decreases thin spines at 2 weeks post-treatment, and increases mushroom spines and decreases uncertain spines at 6 weeks post-treatment, suggesting that SCF+G-CSF facilitates the transition of thin spines into mushroom spines at 2 weeks post-treatment and promotes the maturation of the immature spines (uncertain spines) into mature and stable mushroom spines in a delayed time at the 6 weeks post-treatment. This evidence concerns the gene KITLG and Stroke.