Alzheimer's disease(AD) is the most common neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of two hallmark pathologies, extraneuronal senile plaques and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles. Although the exact mechanisms that trigger the pathological alterations of AD are still not clear, most studies have suggested a variety of pathological changes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and synaptic dysfunction, etc. The transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is activated by oxidative stress and regulates the expression of a variety of antioxidant enzymes and proteins that exert cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress. Numerous studies have addressed the role of Nrf2 against oxidative stress. Further, recent findings concerning that Nrf2 not only regulates antioxidant proteins but also regulates the genes associated with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and nerve growth factor signaling in AD. In addition, activation of the Nrf2 pathway may have the effect of anti-amyloidogenic and reduces the levels of phosphorylated tau. Recently all new anti-AD drugs focused on a single target have failed, so researchers put forward that activation of Nrf2 may be a good treatment for AD through simultaneous modulation of numerous pathways involved in AD pathogenesis. Here in this review we summarize the research status of Nrf2 in AD.