Background: Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
In a Wistar rat model, we studied Alzheimer‑like symptoms using a high‑fat diet (HFD) and
streptozotocin (STZ) to replicate insulin resistance and the resulting neurobehavioral abnormalities.
Curcumin, a flavonoid in turmeric, was studied for its potential therapeutic effects. Aim: This
study sought to look at the exploratory, discriminatory, and spatial cognitive indices in rats.
Materials and Methods: Thirty‑six male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups and given
the following treatments: olive oil only for control; curcumin only for the curcumin group; HFD
and three doses STZ for the diabetic rats; HFD, three doses STZ, and concurrent treatment with
curcumin for the protective group; pretreatment with curcumin, then HFD and three doses STZ for
a preventive group; and HFD, three doses STZ, and curcumin for a therapeutic group. Subsequently,
line and center line crossing frequency assessed rats’ exploratory activities; rearing frequency data
assessed novel environment behavior. The novel object recognition test and Morris water maze test
assessed discrimination and spatial memory. Data were analyzed using one‑way analysis of variance
and Tukey’s post hoc test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Our findings
revealed that insulin resistance prolonged escape latency of untreated diabetic rats; contrariwise,
curcumin significantly reduced escape latency, increased difference score in novel object
recognition paradigm, and increased explorative activities. Conclusion: Oral curcumin improves
exploratory activity, discriminating memory, and spatial memory in male Wistar rats with AD‑like
neurobehavioral impairments. Patients with neurobehavioral abnormalities and comorbid insulin
resistance may benefit from the flavonoids in curcumin.