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Deterioration of the cortical cholinergic system is a leading neurochemical feature of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). This review summarizes evidence that the homomeric α7- nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disease, which is characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulations and neurofibrillary tangles originating from of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Aβ binds to α7-nAChRs with a high affinity, either activating or inhibiting this receptor in a concentration-dependent manner. There is strong evidence that α7-nAChRs are neuroprotective, reducing Aβ-induced toxicity; but co-localization of α7- nAChRs, Aβ and amyloid plaques also points to neurodegenerative actions. Aβ induces tau phosphorylation via α7-nAChR activation. Aβ influences hippocampus-dependent memory and long-term potentiation in a dose-dependent way: there is evidence that enhancement by …