Role of Lateral Entorhinal Cortex in Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

Specific regions of the brain are especially vulnerable to damage in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) is a brain region important for memory function that is damaged in people with Alzheimer's leading to problems in perceiving smells and identifying objects - early symptoms of the disease. Scientists do not yet understand how damage to the entorhinal cortex affects the activity of nerve cells in that region. Another unanswered question is whether stimulating the activity of nerve cells in the entorhinal cortex during the early stages of disease can help restore brain function and preserve cognitive abilities.