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Review
. 2015 Dec 15:7:234.
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00234. eCollection 2015.

Connectivity of Pathology: The Olfactory System as a Model for Network-Driven Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis

Katherine H Franks  1 , Meng Inn Chuah  1 , Anna E King  1 , James C Vickers  1
Affiliations
Review

Connectivity of Pathology: The Olfactory System as a Model for Network-Driven Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis

Katherine H Franks et al. Front Aging Neurosci. .

Abstract

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been postulated to preferentially impact specific neural networks in the brain. The olfactory system is a well-defined network that has been implicated in early stages of the disease, marked by impairment in olfaction and the presence of pathological hallmarks of the disease, even before clinical presentation. Discovering the cellular mechanisms involved in the connectivity of pathology will provide insight into potential targets for treatment. We review evidence from animal studies on sensory alteration through denervation or enrichment, which supports the notion of using the olfactory system to investigate the implications of connectivity and activity in the spread of pathology in AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; amyloid beta; connectivity; denervation; enrichment; olfaction.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Neuronal pathways from olfactory sensory neurons through the olfactory bulb and tract to associated cortical areas. GL = glomerulus, Mi = mitral cells.
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