Evaluation of Relationship Between Depression and Cognitive Impairment in Elderly

Objectives: Depression and cognitive impairments are the most common problem among elderlypeople that both of them cause decreasing the quality of life and functionality and increasing mortality rate. The aim of this study is determination of relationship between depression and cognitive impairments. Methods & Materials: In these cross sectional study we use Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) for evaluation of depression and cognitive impairment of 120 elderly people that participate in the study. We use Pearson correlation coefficient for evaluation of relationship between depression and cognitive impairments. Results: Result revealed that the GDS scoring was correlated with the MMSE (P<0.01). That is corresponding to previous study. Conclusion: Relation between depression and cognitive impairments is refered to age related cognitive decline of frontal lobe, cortical, striatalpallidal, thalamus, cortical pathway mediating both cognitive executive function and depression and aging Causes disjunction in this pathway. Practical use of this study and future interventional study is therapeutic effect of cognitive rehabilitation in treatment of geriatrics depression.