Objectives To investigate the improvement of cognitive function of elderly patients with recurrent depression disorder who was treated by drum circle therapy. Methods A total of 60 elderly patients with recurrent depressive disorder hospitalized in Kailuan Mental Health Center from January to October 2018 were selected， and divided into a study group and a control group， with 30 patients in each group. Patients in the control group received routine treatment and nursing. Besides routine treatment and nursing， the study group received drum circle treatment. The clinical symptoms and cognitive functions of inpatients were assessed by the Nurse Observation Scale（ NOSIE） and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale（ MoCA）， and the results were analyzed and compared. Results （1） Positive factor： There were statistically significant differences in scores in the group at different time points（ study group： F=62.95，P＜0.001； control group： F=61.32， P＜0.001 ）. There were statistically significant differences in scores between the two groups at the same time point（ End of the 4th week： F=8.88，P=0.004； End of the 8th week： F=6.53，P=0.013）.（ 2） Negative factor： There were statistically significant differences in scores in the group at different time points（ study group： F=70.00，P ＜ 0.001； control group： F=45.35，P ＜ 0.001）. There were no statistically significant differences in scores between the two groups at the same time point（ End of the 4th week： F=0.23，P=0.635； End of the 8th week： F=0.09，P=0.767）.（ 3） MoCA： There were statistically significant differences in scores in the group at different time points（ study group： F=36.12，P＜0.001； control group： F=11.81，P＜0.001）. There were statistically significant differences in scores between the two groups at the same time point（ End of the 4th week： F=4.24，P=0.044； End of the 8th week： F=4.39，P=0.040）.（ 4） The results of linear regression showed that whether patients participated in drum circle therapy was an independent factor affecting the change of MoCA score（ OR=9.253， 95%CI： 3.096-27.660，P＜ 0.001）. Conclusions Compared with patients receiving antidepressant drugs and nursing care alone， patients' positive factors improved better and negative factors improved faster after drum circle therapy， especially the improvement of cognitive function of patients responding to MoCA score by drum circle therapy was faster and more effective.