Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of and identify the associates of cognitive function and depression among people over 65 years of age, and to examine the relationship between cognitive impairment and depression. Method From a total of 1,027 inhabitants, aged over 65 years, in a community in Seoul, 605 were accessible and constituted the subjects. The trained health visitors interviewed all study subjects with a socio-demographic character-istics, the Korean version of Mini Mental Scale Examination instrument (MMSE-K), and Short Form of Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS). Results The prevalence of cognitive impairment (MMSE-K≤24) was 41.4%, and that of depression (GDS≥8) was 20.2%. Female gender, increasing age, lower education, separation by death, and no work experience were associated with cognitive impairment. Lower education, no work experience, and separated by death were associated with depression. Depression in demented group was 43.8%, in suspect dementia group was 19.9%, and in non-demented group was 14.4%. Conclusion The prevalence of cognitive impairment and depression in elderly was high and depression was in association with cognitive impairment.