Objective To investigate the effects of Bushen Jianpi Kaixin Formula (BSJPKXF) on the learning and memory ability of Alzheimer s disease (AD) model rats and the related autophagy and apoptosis in cortex of AD model rats, and exploring the underlying mechanism of BSJPKXS. Method The 60 eligible rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10): control group, AD group, Bushen group (BS, 3.6g/kg·d), Jianpi group (JP, 4.05g/kg·d), Kaixin group (KX, 2.34g/kg·d) and Bushen Jianpi Kaixin group (BSJPKX, 9.99g/kg·d). AD mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of D-gal. The rats in BS group, JP group, KX group and BSJPKX group were gavaged with corresponding drugs once a day. The rats in control group and AD group were treated with equal amount of normal saline one time per day. After four weeks, the learning and memory ability was tested by Morris water maze. The open-field test was used for detecting the cognitive function in rats. The expression of LC3-I, LC3-II and Beclin in cerebral cortical tissues were detected by western bolt. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortical tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. The related mRNA level of Beclin 1, P62, Bax and Bcl-2 in cerebral cortical tissues were detected by RT-PCR. Result Compared with the control group, D-gal significantly decreased the spatial learning and memory ability of rats in the AD group (P < 0.01), decreased the expression of Beclin, LC3-I/LC3-II, Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax, increased the mRNA level of P62 and the expression of Bax (P < 0.01). After treatment, related to the AD model group, Bushen Jianpi Kaixin formula improved the spatial learning memory ability of rats in the BSJPKX group (P < 0.01), increased the expression of Beclin, LC3-I/LC3-II, Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax, decreased the mRNA level of P62 and the expression of Bax (P < 0.01). Conclusion Bushen Jianpi Kaixin formula can improve cognitive impairment in AD rats. The mechanism is presumedly related to the reduction of neural autophagy and apoptosis.