Cognitive impairment in the elderly is closely associated with the vascular risk factors, and such impairment is increasing year by year, posing a serious threat to the health among the elderly. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion are important vascular risk factors for cognitive functions in the elderly. It is, therefore, of medical and social significance in the early diagnosis and intervention to investigate the relationship between vascular risk factors and cognitive impairment in the elderly and the underlying mechanism.