Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and there is currently no cure. Neural circuit dysfunction is the fundamental mechanism underlying the learning and memory deficits in patients with AD. Therefore, it is important to understand the structural features and mechanisms underlying the deregulated circuits during AD progression, by which new tools for intervention can be developed. Here, we briefly summarize the most recently established cutting-edge experimental approaches and key techniques that enable neural circuit tracing and manipulation of their activity. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of these approaches. Finally, we review the applications of these techniques in the discovery of circuit mechanisms underlying β-amyloid and tau pathologies during AD progression, and as well as the strategies for targeted AD treatments.

阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 是最常见的神经退行性疾病，目前尚无治愈方法。神经回路功能障碍是 AD 患者学习和记忆缺陷的基本机制。因此，重要的是要了解 AD 进展过程中失调电路的结构特征和机制，从而可以开发新的干预工具。在这里，我们简要总结了最近建立的尖端实验方法和关键技术，这些方法和关键技术能够使神经回路追踪和操纵它们的活动。我们还讨论了这些方法的优点和局限性。最后，我们回顾了这些技术在发现 AD 进展过程中 β-淀粉样蛋白和 tau 病理的电路机制中的应用，