Objective To explore the association between perceived control and cognitive function in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods Convenience sampling method was used to select 437 AIS patients from Jul. to Nov. 2020. Among them, 231 patients were from Neurovascular Center, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University) and 206 were from Stroke Center, Air Force Hospital of PLA Eastern Theater Command. Demographic and sociological data and AIS-related data were collected using the self-made general data and disease-related data questionnaires. Cognitive function was assessed using Montreal cognitive assessment, Changsha version. Perceived control was assessed by perceived control in health care questionnaire. The association between perceptive control and cognitive function was analyzed by hierarchical regression analysis.Results Among the 437 AIS patients, 286 (65.4%) were male and 151 (34.6%) were female, aged from 45 to 92 years, with an average age of (64.8±9.6) years. The National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score was 3 (1, 7) on admission, and 329 (75.3%) patients had the first onset of AIS. The average score of cognitive function of the 437 patients was 19.6±6.2, which was generally at a low level. The average score of perceived control was 78.8±22.8, which was generally at a middle level. After adjusting the severity of AIS, age, gender and education level, the analysis results of hierarchical regression model showed that perceived control was associated with cognitive function in AIS patients (β=0.11, P=0.014).Conclusion Low perceived control is an important factor related to low cognitive function in AIS patients. Improving perceived control is a potential intervention method for cognitive impairment in AIS patients.