To investigate the role and mechanism of Yifei Xuanfei Jiangzhuo Formula in improving memory in vascular dementia by regulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF).Methods:Wistar rats were randomly assigned into sham，model，and low-，medium-，high-dose(1.25，2.5，and 5 g/kg，respectively) Yifei Xuanfei Jiangzhuo Formula，and huperzine A(3 mg/kg) groups(n=15).The rats in other groups except the sham group were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) for the modeling of vascular dementia.The rats in the drug intervention groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage，and those in the sham and model groups were administrated with the same volume of normal saline once a day for 4 weeks.Morris water maze test was performed to examine the neurobehaviors of the rats.After the test，the hippocampal tissue was collected，and the terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling(TUNEL) was employed to detect apoptosis in the hippocampal tissue.The BDNF expression in the hippocampal tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results:The results of Morris water maze test showed that compared with the model group，Yifei Xuanfei Jiangzhuo Formula shortened the escape latency(P<0.05) and increased the number of crossing the platform(P<0.05).The TUNEL results showed that Yifei Xuanfei Jiangzhuo Formula inhibited the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons(P<0.05).The immunohistochemical results showed that Yifei Xuanfei Jiangzhuo Formula up-regulated the BDNF expression in the hippocampal tissue(P<0.05).Conclusion:Yifei Xuanfei Jiangzhuo Formula can improve the learning and memory in the rat model of vascular dementia by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and up-regulating BDNF expression.