When the ear gets tired, the brain gets confused
This event has already taken place!
The Bar des Sciences is partnering with Brain Awareness Week to discuss hearing loss and neurocognitive disorders.
Against the backdrop of the world’s rapidly aging population, the prevention of neurocognitive disorders is a major public health challenge. Identifying the factors that can help delay their onset is now a priority.
Among modifiable risk factors, hearing loss appears to be the most significant. Numerous scientific publications, as reported in the general media, emphasize the importance of early screening for hearing loss and highlight the close links between hearing loss and cognitive decline.
Come and chat over a drink with experts on the topic at this event, held in conjunction with Brain Awareness Week 2026 and organized by the Society for Neuroscience.
To discuss this topic, five experts from various disciplines will answer questions from the audience live:
- Germain Busto is a neuroscientist in the Department of Neurology at Montpellier University Hospital and at the Montpellier Institute of Neuroscience (INM—Inserm, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier). His research contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms of memory and how they are altered by certain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
- François Dejean is an audiologist at Audilab and holds a master's degree in audiology and hearing disorders from the University of Montpellier. He also serves as secretary of the French Society of Audiology.
- Jean-Luc Puel is a professor at the University of Montpellier, head of the hearing research team, and former director of the Montpellier Institute of Neurosciences (INM – Inserm, University of Montpellier). He is also president of the National Hearing Association. His research focuses on the functioning of the inner ear in humans.
- Elodie Richard is an Inserm research fellow at the Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Dementias laboratory (MMDN – Inserm, University of Montpellier, EPHE). Her research focuses on the cellular determinants of neurodegenerative and neurosensory processes (hearing and vision).
- Cédric Turpinat is a hospital physician and neurologist at the Center for Memory, Resources, and Research s (CMRR–Montpellier University Hospital). His research contributes to our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and their detection through the use of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Admission is free, subject to availability.
The Bar des sciences has become one of Montpellier’s flagship events for scientific culture, offering a participatory, community-driven discussion on all aspects of science once a month from January through June. Throughout the season, scientists are invited to engage in a dialogue where their knowledge and practices are shared and discussed.
Once again this year, the Bar des Sciences is receiving support from the University of Montpellier through the ministerial “Science with and for Society” (SAPS) initiative. As part of this initiative, we remain committed to making scientific culture increasingly accessible. Special attention will be given to the inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals at every Bar des Sciences event. As such, this event will feature sign language interpretation provided by Des’L Interprétation.
The season is co-produced by the scientific outreach departments of theUM , and its partners: INRAE, INSERM, IRD, the Faculty of Sciences at Montpellier, and Radio Aviva.
Upcoming Schedule:
- April 16, Microplastics: From the Ocean to the Plate. 7:30 p.m., Brasserie Le Dôme, Montpellier. Translated into French Sign Language.
- May 28, Agroforestry, Pastoralism: A Revolution in Our Regions. 7:30 p.m.,
Brasserie Le Dôme, Montpellier. Translated into French Sign Language. - June 11, Amateur Collections: From the Personal to Scientific Heritage. 7:00 p.m.,
Émile Zola Media Library, Montpellier. Translated into French Sign Language.
Program for Brain Awareness Week 2026, organized by the Society for Neuroscience, which you can find here.
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