To investigate the effects of Yangxue Qingnao Granules on learning,memory and expression of GAP-43 and PSD-95 in rats with cognitive impairment.Methods:A bilateral carotid artery permanent ligation was used to construct the rat models of cognitive dysfunction,and the rats with cognitive impairment were randomly divided into a model group and a test group,with 18 rats in each group.Rats in the sham-operation group(n=15)only isolated and exposed the carotid arteries without ligation.Rats in the test group were administered with Yangxue Qingnao Granules 10 mL/（kg·d) by gavage.The sham-operation group and the model group were perfused with the same amount of normal saline,and the intervention was continued for 4 weeks.The learning and memory ability of rats were detected in each group; histopathological changes in hippocampus of rats by HE staining was observed; TUNEL was used to detect hippocampal neuron apoptosis in each group of rats; Wb method was used to detect the protein expression of GAP-43 and PSD-95 in hippocampus of rats.Results:Compared with the sham-operation group,the escape latency and swimming distance of the model group were significantly longer,the number of times to cross the original platform significantly reduced,the memory score significantly decreased,the apoptosis index of hippocampal neurons and the relative expression of PSD-95 protein in the hippocampus significantly increased in the model group,but the relative expression of GAP-43 protein significantly reduced,and the above indicators were better in the test group than in the model group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Yangxue Qingnao Granules can improve the learning and memory ability,inhibit neuronal apoptosis,and its mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of GAP-43 protein and down-regulating the expression of PSD-95 protein in hippocampus.