In this study, the potential for recovery mediated by co-treatment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) on functional recovery after Ibotenic acid (Ibo) lesion of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) was examined. Ibotenic acid was injected bilaterally into the NBM of experimental rats, then the animals received treatments as follows: ASCs (500 × 10³), BDNF (5 ug/ul) and a combination of BDNF and ASCs. Two months after the treatment, cognitive recovery was assessed by the Morris water-maze. These results showed that ASCs transplantation may have therapeutic value in disease and conditions that result in memory loss, and co-treatment with BDNF doesn’t offer more efficacious cognitive function.