Table 1 Network-predicted risk genes involved in four pathobiological pathways of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

MEF2C^a

Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C

MEF2C mRNA expression levels were correlated with AD pathology

RIMS1

Regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis protein 1

An altered protein expression in RIMS1 during AD pathology

APOE^a

Apolipoprotein E

Affect Aβ production, aggregation, and clearance

CHRNA7

Neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-7

Bind to Aβ with very high affinity, providing therapeutic insight into AD

SORL1^a

Sortilin-related receptor

Reduce Aβ generation by trafficking APP away from amyloidogenic cleavage sites

ADAM10^a

Disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10

Constitutive α-secretase in the process of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) cleavage

LRP2

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2

rs3755166 polymorphism within LRP2 gene is associated with susceptibility to AD in the Chinese population

MAPK1

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1

Beta-amyloid activates the MAPK cascade via hippocampal CHRNA7

PTK2B^a

Protein-tyrosine kinase 2-beta

An in vivo modulator and early marker of Tau pathology

FOXO3

Forkhead box protein O3

Activate BCL2L11 and FASLG to promote neuronal death and aberrant Aβ processing

NOS1

Nitric oxide synthase

Loss of endothelial NOS promotes p25 production and Tau phosphorylation

NFKB1

Nuclear factor NF-kappa-B p105 subunit

Involve in neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory implicated in AD

ESR1

Estrogen receptor

Interact with tau protein in vivo, and prevent glutamate excitotoxic injury by Aβ through estrogen signaling mechanisms