Hearing loss and neurocognitive disorders will be the themes of the next Science Bar 2026, held in conjunction with Brain Awareness Week

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

On Thursday, March 19, starting at 7:30 p.m., the third Science Bar of the year will take place, organized by the University of Montpellier. For this event, Germain Busto, a neuroscientist in the Department of Neurology at Montpellier University Hospital and at the Montpellier Institute of Neuroscience, François Dejean, an audiologist at Audilab, Jean-Luc Puel, a professor at the University of Montpellier and head of the hearing research team, Elodie Richard, an Inserm research fellow at the Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Dementias laboratory, and Cédric Turpinat, a hospital physician and neurologist at the Memory Resource and Research Center, will be present to facilitate a dialogue between researchers and the public on hearing loss and neurocognitive disorders.

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 not only shared but also open to discussion. 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 support from Radio Aviva. Sign language interpretation is provided for this event.

A Science Bar in conjunction with Brain Awareness Week, focusing on hearing loss and neurocognitive disorders

Against the backdrop of the global population’s rapidly aging, the prevention of neurocognitive disorders is a major public health issue. 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, reported on by the general media, emphasize the importance of early screening for hearing loss and highlight the close links between hearing loss 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—science and society—five experts from various disciplines 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 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 is also the 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 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 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.

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. This event will feature sign language interpretation provided by Des’L Interprétation.