The invention provides application of retinoic acid and its derivatives in preparation of drugs preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease. Retinoic acid and its derivatives are drug candidate molecules that can be used for controlling Alzheimer's disease. According to the invention, retinoic acid and its derivatives can inhibit amyloid protein induced inflammatory response during Alzheimer's disease attacks by specifically inhibiting the activity of transcription factor AP-1, thus delaying the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease. Retinoic acid and its derivatives can substantially improve dyskinesias of SAM-P/8 mice, obviously enhance brain tissue SOD activity of SAM-P/8 mice, reduce brain tissue MDA content, lower brain tissue cholinesterase activity, strengthen the activity of brain tissue Na<+>-K<+>-ATP enzyme and Ca<2+>-ATP enzyme. Application of retinoic acid and its derivatives in preparation of drugs preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease can realize inhibition of Alzheimer's disease attack processes on an animal level. Meanwhile, the small molecular drugs adopted in the invention are characterized by easy acquisition, low price, stable property, as well as convenient storage and transport.