Marion RICHARD "Brain aging and remediation by odors"

Aging is associated with structural and functional changes in brain networks and neuronal populations, leading to behavioral alterations notably in sensory perception, learning and memory. I will present data emphasizing the progression of the effect of aging on olfactory learning and underlying plasticity of adult born neurons and the identification of middle age as an interesting time point, where the brain develops compensation strategies that progressively become insufficient. I will also discuss how odors can be used as efficient strategies to promote better aging with results in mice and a translational validation we are developing in aged humans.