[Objective]To review the research progress in foreign literatures of the effectiveness of different exercise prescriptions on the improvement of cognitive function. [Methods]A systematic review of 556 papers on the effects of exercises on cognitive function in databases such as ebsco cost (2008-2017) using the literature method. [Result] The healthy minors' ability of inhibition, working memory and sifting through aerobic exercise was significantly improved (P<0.05); there was some improvement in inhibition, working memory, shifting, attention, memorizing and computing powers after a certain period of aerobic, resistance and multicomponent exercise in the young, middle and old-age populations. A random control test showed that forms of aerobic exercise, resistance exercise and multicomponent exercise had good effects on Alzheimer's patients in the elderly population. [Conclusion]Physical exercises can improve performance of people's daily activities and improve neuropsychiatric disorders, depressive symptoms, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary functions in elderly people with cognitive impairment. The choice of exercise prescription should take into account the actual state of participants' physical and mental quality, and only scientific implementation can achieve good results.