Memory and neurogenesis in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

A possible link between a deficient neurogenesis at the dentate gyrus, and the loss of memory found in Alzheimer's disease patients is discussed. First is indicated that Alzheimer disease is a memory disorder. Since adult neurogenesis at the dentate gyrus plays a role in declarative memory, a brief comment on the structure and function of dentate gyrus has been included. At molecular level, we have discussed the function of the enzyme GSK3 on the development of neurogenesis at the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. Finally, we have indicated that in Alzheimer disease there is an increase in GSK3 activity. This increase could impair the neurogenesis process and it could result in the memory deficit found in Alzheimer patients.