Depressão e declínio cognitivo em idosos: revisão narrativa

Abstract

Depression and mild cognitive decline in the elderly are neurocognitive processes that may be correlated throughout the human aging process. In the present study, we aimed to carry out a narrative review of Brazilian studies on cognitive decline and depression in the elderly. Scientific articles published between 2016 and 2022 were searched, registered in the Google Scholar and Web of Science databases. In the data extraction form, the following were recorded: study objective; instruments on cognition and depression and main results of the studies. Two researchers conducted independent searches and subsequently compared the results. The results of the review indicated that older elderly people (over 80 years old) seem to be more vulnerable to the mentioned comorbidity, as well as people with low education, those who do not have a stable union or who live with their children, and also those who are institutionalized. There is no consensus on the functional capacity factor as a moderator of the relationship between the two subject variables of the present study. The association between the two clinical conditions (depression/mild cognitive decline) does not always occur, but when it does exist, it is a weak correlation. Among the elements that were associated with the studied comorbidity are social support, resilience, neuropsychiatric disorders, sleep quality and cognitive impairment in general (processing speed, memory, attention). In recent years, research has shown us the importance of investing in studies that show potential professional interventions for the careful management of depression and mild cognitive decline, in order to support strategies for prevention and health promotion in the elderly.