IDENTIFICATION OF HIPPOCAMPUS-RELATED HUB GENES AND PATHWAYS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE USING DIFFERENTIAL GENE EXPRESSION AND NETWORK ANALYSIS

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss, with the hippocampus being significantly affected. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hippocampus of AD patients using the GSE48350 dataset. Through rigorous preprocessing and quality control, we identified 250 top DEGs, including 189 upregulated and 61 downregulated genes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed SRC, BTK, and CD80 as key hub genes, indicating their central roles in AD pathology. Functional enrichment analysis of these hub genes highlighted several significantly overrepresented pathways, including Thiamine metabolism, Regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, Axon guidance, Influenza A, Calcium signaling, and Thermogenesis. These findings underscore the critical involvement of synaptic function, neuroinflammation, and immune modulation in AD and suggest potential metabolic and neurodevelopmental links to the disease. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of AD and identifies potential therapeutic targets for future research.