The extracellular deposition of the amyloid β (Aβ) and the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are hallmarks of the Alzheimer's disease (AD). Abnormal accumulation of the Aβ and the tau (the major components of the NFTs) in the brain induces the aberrant activity of neurons and the structural/functional deficits of neural circuits, which may account for the cognitive impairments in the AD patients. This paper briefly reviews the generation of the Aβ and the tau, and then focuses on the abnormal activities of neurons and neural circuits induced by the Aβ and the tau. Meanwhile, the effects of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE), the neuroinflammation and the abnormal adult neurogenesis on the aberrant activities of neurons and neural circuits in the AD patients are discussed. It is hoped that these discussions will provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the cognitive dysfunctions in the AD patients.

Alzheimer's disease  /  Amyloid β peptide  /  tau  /  neuronal activity  /  neural circuit  /  cognitive dysfunction