Objective To evaluate the effect of Tai Chi exercise on cognitive function of the aged. Methods Searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure database

Wanfang data knowledge service platform

Chongqing VIP Chinese science and technology periodical database

China biomedical literature database

Pub Med

The Cochrane Library and Embase. Collected the clinical research literature in which the elder population practiced Tai Chi and cognitive function outcomes were researched. Conducted Cochrane bias risk assessment. Conducted systematic review and Meta-analysis for the effective information. Results Included 8 randomized controlled trials in total. All studies were described as random

but only two studies described the random method

with one study with blinding.The overall methodological quality was low. Meta-analysis results showed that

the cognitive function outcome evaluation in the aged with cognitive function defect

the overall cognitive function [MD = 0. 91

95% CI（ 0. 37

1. 46）

I

2

= 0

P = 0. 001]

language fluency [MD = 2. 17

95% CI（ 0. 88

3. 45）

I

2

= 0

P

<

0. 001] and delayed recall test [MD = 0. 7

95% CI（ 0. 29

1. 11）

I

2

= 0

P

<

0. 001]evaluation in the Tai Chi group were significantly better than that in the control group

with no significant improvement in memory span [MD = 0. 16

95% CI（-0. 14

0. 45）

I

2

= 55%

P = 0. 30]. In the outcome indicators evaluation of the healthy elder people

the overall cognitive function evaluation [MD = 0. 7

95% CI（ 0. 11

1. 29）

P = 0. 02]

in the Tai Chi group was significantly better than the control group. In language fluency evaluation [MD = 0. 32

95% CI（ 0. 01

0. 64）

I

2

= 0 P =0. 05 ]

the difference was not statistically significant

but there is a potential advantage; in evaluation of execution of test line A（ TMT-A） [MD = 1. 53

95% CI（ 0. 1

2. 96）

I

2

= 26%

P = 0. 04]

the Tai Chi group was better than the control group; in evaluation of execution of test line B（ TMT-B） [MD = 1. 24

95% CI（-5. 20

7. 67）

I

2

=94%

P = 0. 71] the difference between the Tai Chi group and the control group was not significant. Conclusion Tai Chi could effectively improve cognitive function of the healthy elder people and those with cognitive impairment.