Cuminaldehyde (CA) is one of the major compounds of the essential oil of . The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CA on aging, specifically on spatial learning and memory. To achieve our objective, an study on SH-SY5Y cells was performed to analyze the neuroprotective effect of CA against dexamethasone using the MTT assay. An study was performed for evaluation of the spatial learning and memory using Morris water maze (MWM). RT-PCR was performed to quantify the expression of specific genes ( and ) in the mice brain. The results obtained showed a neuroprotective effect of CA against dexamethasone-induced neuronal toxicity. The escape latency of CA-treated aged mice was significantly decreased as compared to the water-treated aged mice after 4 days of training in MWM. Moreover, CA treatment up-regulated the gene expression of , and , while it down-regulated the gene expression of . These findings suggest that CA has a neuroprotective effect, as well as a spatial learning and memory enhancement potential through the modulation of genes coding for neurotrophic factors and/or those implicated in the imbalance of neural circuitry and impairment of synaptic plasticity. Cuminaldehyde (CA) is one of the major compound of the essential oil of . The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CA on aging, specifically on spatial learning and memory. To achieve our objective, an study on SH-SY5Y cells was performed to analyze the neuroprotective effect of CA against dexamethasone using the MTT assay. An study was performed for evaluation of the spatial learning and memory using Morris water maze (MWM). RT-PCR was performed to quantify the expression of specific genes ( and ) in the mice brain. The results obtained showed a neuroprotective effect of CA against dexamethasone-induced neuronal toxicity. The escape latency of CA-treated aged mice was significantly decreased as compared to the water-treated aged mice after 4 days of training in MWM. Moreover, CA treatment up-regulated the gene expression of , and , while it down-regulated the gene expression of . These findings suggest that CA has a neuroprotective effect, as well as a spatial learning and memory enhancement potential through the modulation of genes coding for neurotrophic factors and/or those implicated in the imbalance of neural circuitry and impairment of synaptic plasticity.