Alzheimer’s disease （AD） is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. With unclear causes and gradual onset， its diagnosis， treatment， and prognosis remain a great challenge. Therefore， it is increasingly important to clarify the pathogenesis of AD. Early growth response factor 1 （EGR1） is a nuclear transcription factor that is related to cell proliferation and differentiation and involved in regulating the expression of various target genes in humans. Studies have shown that EGR1 is significantly upregulated in the brain of patients with AD， and is enriched in neurons with a high density of neurofibrillary tangles， suggesting a close link between EGR1 and the development or progression of AD. This article reviews research progress on the role of EGR1 in the pathogenesis of AD from the aspects of β-amyloid peptide， abnormally phosphorylated tau protein， cholinergic system dysfunction， regulation of the aging process， and cell inflammation， aiming to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment and research of AD in the future.