To investigate the cognitive function of the elderly with different exercise frequencies, and to analyze the effect of exercise frequency on the cognitive function of the elderly.

By using the method of stratified proportional sampling, 4 414 people aged 60 and above were selected from the streets of Yinzhou district of Ningbo. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used to screen the cognitive function of the elderly in the community, and the generalized linear model was used to analyze the influence of exercise frequency and other factors on the cognitive function of the elderly.

The average MMSE score of 4 414 elderly people was 27.05±3.25. The MMSE scores of the elderly who never exercised, rarely exercised, and exercised regularly were 26.03±3.82, 27.04±3.19, and 27.53±2.88, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (F=72.596, P < 0.001). There were significant differences in cognitive function among the elderly with different exercise frequencies in the fields of orientation, memory, attention and calculation, recall, and language ability (F=13.120, F=13.309, F=33.508, F=32.575, and F=65.312, P<0.01). The results of generalized linear model analysis showed that after controlling other factors, compared with never exercise, the MMSE scores of rare exercise and regular exercise were 2.291 times (95%CI: 1.808-2.904) and 2.470 times (95%CI: 1.973-3.094), respectively.

Exercise frequency is closely related to the cognitive function of the elderly aged 60 and above in the community. Exercise can alleviate the cognitive dysfunction of the elderly in the community and actively mobilize the whole body to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The elderly should be encouraged to participate in more exercises suitable for them.