A total of 1301 records were identified and 20 cohort studies were included in this review. Regarding chronic pain, 57.1% (4/7 studies, n = 17368) revealed that chronic pain was a risk factor for cognitive decline, with RR (Risk Ratio) ranging from 1.20 (1.13, 1.27) to 1.80 (1.30-2.49). Headache was also a risk factor for the majority of studies (61.5%, 8/13 studies, n = 315820), with RR ranging from 1.15 (1.05, 1.27) to 2.97 (1.25, 6.61). These studies included participants with similar range of mean age (for chronic pain: 40 to 76.1, for headache: 42.2 to 70) and follow-up ranging from 4 to 27 years (chronic pain) and 5 to 19 years (headache). The lifelong frequency, intensity and interference of pain were not routinely assessed and cognitive evaluation was heterogeneous.