Recent Advances in Multimodal Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Late-Life Depression

Late-life depression (LLD) is a common mental disorder that significantly accelerates cognitive decline, increases the risk of somatic comorbidities, and increases all-cause mortality. Traditional pharmacotherapy for this population faces significant limitations, including increased pharmacokinetic sensitivity, anticholinergic burden, and adverse events associated with multiple medications. These factors collectively lead to poor adherence and limited long-term efficacy. This narrative literature review was conducted using studies retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, with general search phrases on LLD and non-pharmacological interventions. The inclusion criteria were clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews published between 2020 and 2025. Studies that were finally selected were comprehensively evaluated, with non-English literature and case reports excluded. Non-pharmacological interventions have become a core strategy for the management of LLD due to the advantages of high safety, fewer side effects, and a multi-target nature. Psychotherapy, physical intervention, digital technology, and lifestyle modification can effectively improve patients' depressive symptoms, improve quality of life, reduce the risk of relapse, and serve as possible alternatives and supplementary treatment options for older patients. There is a need for more in-depth research on non-pharmacological interventions for LLD. Future studies should explore the combined application of different non-pharmacological treatments to optimize treatment plans. Developing individualized non-pharmacological treatment plans to improve the accuracy of treatment and reduce the burden of disease should be considered.