Age at illness onset and physical activity are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with current diagnosis of major depressive disorder

•MDD patients show cognitive deficits with global and specific domain impairment.•Years of schooling, job status, physical activity and the age at illness onset might predict the global cognitive deficits in MDD patients.•Physical activity and reinforcement of cognitive reserve should be incorporated in the assessment and treatment protocols in MDD. Background. Cognitive impairment has been reported in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This study aims to explore the association between lifestyle habits and health-related factors and the presence of cognitive symptoms in MDD patients. Methods. Demographic, clinical, health-related variables and cognitive scores measured with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were compared between 74 patients with current MDD and 68 healthy controls (HC). To test the hypothesis of associated factors to cognitive symptoms, multivariate backward stepwise linear regression models were run. Results. Significant neuropsychological deficits were evident in MDD compared with HC in the global cognitive index (F=8.29; df=1, 140; p=0.005). In the regression analysis performed on MDD and HC, years of schooling (β=˗0.11; p=