Deafness and neurocognitive disorders will be the themes of the next Science Bar 2026, associated with Brain Awareness Week.

[Press release] - Published on March 2, 2026 in Press Room, Science-Society

On Thursday, March 19, starting at 7:30 p.m., the third Science Bar of the year, organized by the University of Montpellier, will take place. For this edition, Germain Busto, neuroscientist in the neurology department at Montpellier University Hospital and at the Montpellier Institute of Neuroscience, François Dejean, hearing aid specialist at Audilab, Jean-Luc Puel, professor at the University of Montpellier and head of the hearing team, Elodie Richard, Inserm research fellow at the Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Dementias Laboratory, and Cédric Turpinat, hospital practitioner and neurologist at the Memory Resource and Research Center, will be present to share the perspectives of researchers and the public on deafness and neurocognitive disorders.

The Science Bar has become one of Montpellier's flagship scientific culture events, offering a monthly participatory and citizen-led debate on all aspects of science from January to June. Throughout the season, scientists are invited to engage in a dialogue where their knowledge and practices are shared, but can also be discussed. The season is co-produced by the scientific culture departments of the UM and its partners: INRAE, Inserm, IRD, and the Faculty of Sciences, with the support of Radio Aviva. This evening event will be translated into sign language.

A Science Bar associated with Brain Awareness Week dedicated to deafness and neurocognitive disorders

With the global population aging at an accelerated rate, preventing neurocognitive disorders is a major public health challenge. Identifying ways to delay their onset is now a priority.  Among the modifiable risk factors, hearing loss appears to be the most significant. Numerous scientific publications, relayed by the mainstream press, emphasize the importance of early screening for hearing loss and highlight the close links between hearing impairment and cognitive decline.

To better understand this phenomenon and its implications, we invite you to a unique event: " When the ear gets tired, the brain gets confused."

To discuss this topic of science and society, five multidisciplinary experts will answer questions from the audience:

• 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 provides 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 is also secretary of the French Society of Audiology.

• Jean-Luc Puel is a professor at the University of Montpellier, head of the hearing team, and former director of the Montpellier Institute of Neuroscience (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 practitioner and neurologist at the Memory, Resources, and Research Center Research CMRR–Montpellier University Hospital). His research contributes to knowledge and detection of neurodegenerative diseases through access to diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

Once again this year, the Science Bar is supported by the University of Montpellier's Science with and for Society (SAPS) ministerial label. As part of this certification, the commitment to making scientific culture increasingly accessible continues. Special attention will be paid to the inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing people at each Bar des Sciences evening. This evening will be translated into sign language by Des'L Interprétation.