Entorhinal cortex dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease

The entorhinal cortex (EC) is the brain region that often exhibits the earliest histological alterations in Alzheimer's disease (AD), including the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and cell death. Recently, brain imaging studies from preclinical AD patients and electrophysiological recordings from AD animal models have shown that impaired neuronal activity in the EC precedes neurodegeneration. This implies that memory impairments and spatial navigation deficits at the initial stage of AD are likely caused by activity dysfunction rather than by cell death. This review focuses on recent findings on EC dysfunction in AD, and discusses the potential pathways for mitigating AD progression by protecting the EC.