Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is understood as a condition between normal aging and dementia, with different etiological factors, clinical presentations and progression profiles. The aim of this paper was to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of depression in the development of MCI. Most studies have confirmed that there is a significant connection between depression and the incidence of MCI. Depression can be a risk factor for the development of MCI. The connection between depression and MCI is achieved through common factors such as vascular lesions, Alzheimer’s disease pathology and genetic links. Depressive symptoms and changes in white matter may have an additive or synergistic effect on the development of MCI. Risk factors for the incidence of MCI in individuals with depression include older age, cumulative depressive symptoms, longer duration of depression, higher severity of depressive symptoms, low, but also high burden of Alzheimer’s pathology, synergistic additive interaction of lack of physical activity and sleep difficulties, depression and anxiety, male gender, lower level of formal education and current prescription of antidepressants. Protective factors that promote the reversion to normal cognitive functioning in depressed individuals include younger age, non-amnestic MCI, lower severity of depressive symptoms or a reduction in depressive symptoms.