Objective To study the association between impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and cognitive impairment in community elderly residents.Methods A total of ≥60 years old 1223 people were divided into normal fasting glucose (NFG) group (n=981) and IFG group (n=242).Their baseline data were recorded,their cognitive function was assessed according to the MMSE score.Results The education level,BMI,serum FBG,TG,LDL-C levels,incidence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia were significantly higher while the serum HDL-C level was significantly lower in IFG group than in NFG group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The incidence of cognitive impairment was significantly higher while the score of MMSE,orientation,attention and calculation,immediate recall and language was significantly lower in IFG group than in NFG group (40.50％ vs 21.51％,24.76±5.38 vs 26.60±4.26,9.07±1.81 vs 9.48±1.15,3.39±2.00 vs 3.88±1.81,2.93±0.41 vs 2.98±0.24,6.74±1.51 vs 7.18±1.15,P＜0.01).Age,female sex,LDL-C and IFG were risk factors for cognitive impairment in the elderly (P＜0.01,P＜0.05) while the education level was a protective factor for cognitive impairment in the elderly (P=0.000).Conclusion IFG is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in the elderly.Early diagnosis and intervention can improve cognitive function in the elderly.