ABSTRACT
Depression is a major source of disability worldwide, particularly among older adults who also have signi˜cant medical comorbidity and greater rates of cognitive impairment. Older adults with depression typically experience greater rates of subjective memory problems (Minett et al. 2008) and objective cognitive impairment on neuropsychological testing (Burt et al. 1995). Moreover, depressive symptoms are linked with greater medical comorbidity (Lyness et al. 1996). This triad of vulnerability (depression, cognitive dysfunction, and medical comorbidity) places them at particularly high risk for disability and mortality. Within this context, the vascular depression hypothesis examines one speci˜c mechanism that links physical health conditions with greater rates of depression, and accompanying cognitive impairment.
