LEHA
Lifelong Exposures Health & Aging

Details
Université de Bordeaux, ISPED
146 rue Léo-Saignat
33076 BORDEAUX cedex
Objectives
The objective of team LEHA is to study age-related diseases, in particular those of the brain (dementia, Alzheimer’s disease) and of the eye (age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma), using a lifelong approach and focusing on shared mechanisms and exposures, in order to define strategies for the prevention of age-related functional loss and the promotion of healthy aging.
Research area
We study populations of different ages (elderly, middle-aged, young) in prospective designs allowing for the study of slow long-term processes, using early biomarkers (in particular eye and brain imaging) allowing for the early detection of health related effects of exposures.
As age-related diseases share common mechanisms and consequences and interact with each other, aging is considered as a global state promoting the occurrence of diseases. Models of aging are mainly neurological diseases (cognitive decline and dementia/ Alzheimer’s) and eye diseases (mainly age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma), but also extend to other health endpoints, such as diabetes, kidney disease or physical performance.
Our research is based on population-based cohorts that we have been conducting in elderly populations for more than 30 years: the PAQUID cohort (n=3777, followed since 1988) and the 3C Study (n=9294 including 2104 in Bordeaux, followed since 1999), and its ancillary ophthalmological study in Bordeaux Alienor (n=963, followed since 2006).
We also participate in population-based cohort studies (i-Share, 20,000 students, PI C. Tzourio), Constances (220,000 adults aged 18-69 years, followed since 2012, PI M. Zins, Inserm U1018, Villejuif) and B cube (planned 2000 aged 55-80 years in Bordeaux, PI C Samieri), in particular by generating cutting edge ophthalmological phenotypic information and several ranges of biomarkers. Finally, we collaborate with European and American cohorts, individually or within collaborative projects.
Overall, these studies collect information on many aspects of aging (functions, chronic and degenerative diseases, disability) and their determinants (clinical factors, nutrition, environmental exposures, genetics), which allow a very comprehensive study of the epidemiology of health and aging in older adults, but also offer a scope for a broader lifelong approach, thanks to the epidemiological and clinical studies conducted in younger individuals.
2025 Key Publications
Holz FG, Le Mer Y, Muqit MMK, Hattenbach L-O, Cusumano A, Grisanti S, Kodjikian L, Pileri MA, Matonti F, Souied E, Stanzel BV, Szurman P, Weber M, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Eter N, Delyfer MN, Girmens JF, van Overdam KA, Wolf A, Hornig R, Corazzol M, Brodie F, Olmos de Koo L, Palanker D, Sahel J-A. Subretinal Photovoltaic Implant to Restore Vision in Geographic Atrophy Due to AMD. N Engl J Med. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2501396
Kayembe-Mulumba B, Leffondre K, Merle BMJ, Korobelnik J-F, Helmer C, Tzourio C, Delcourt C, Cougnard-Gregoire A, Delyfer M-N. Long-Term Blood Pressure Variability and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Older Adults: The ALIENOR Study. Ophthalmol Sci. 2025;5(6):100878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xops.2025.100878
Larsen PP, Delyfer M-N, Schweitzer C, Korobelnik J-F, Delcourt C. Neuroretinal and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Changes and Susceptibility to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Insights from the Longitudinal ALIENOR Study. Ophthalmology. 2025;132(6):671-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2025.01.002
Larsen PP, Dinet V, Delcourt C, Helmer C, Linard M. Could Infectious Agents Play a Role in the Onset of Age-related Macular Degeneration? A Scoping Review. Ophthalmol Sci. 2025;5(2):100668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xops.2024.100668
Le Gall L, Alencar de Pinho N, Harambat J, Combe C, Drueke TB, Choukroun G, Fouque D, Barbieri A, Frimat L, Jacquelinet C, Laville M, Liabeuf S, Pecoits-Filho R, Philipps V, Massy ZA, Stengel B, Prezelin-Reydit M, Leffondre K. A longitudinal analysis of haemoglobin levels and major cardiovascular events. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfaf221
Linard M, Garrigue I, Vellas B, Coley N, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Ashton NJ, Payoux P, Salabert A-S, Dartigues J-F, Mazere J, Andrieu S, Helmer C. Association between herpes simplex virus infection and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers: analysis within the MAPT trial. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):2362. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84583-x
Rami Arab L, Berard AM, Lacape G, Barbet-Massin M-A, Blanco L, Foussard N, Poullenot F, Larroumet A, Mohammedi K, Montaudon M, Trillaud H, Rigalleau V. Low serum albumin and severe undernutrition in subjects with diabetes and weight loss. Nutrition. 2025;139:112883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2025.112883
Richard S, Beurton-Aimar M, Delcourt C, Delyfer MN, editors. Superpixel-based Graph Neural Network with Hierarchical Topology for retinal image grading. 2025 International Conference on Multimedia Analysis and Pattern Recognition (MAPR); 2025 14-15 Aug. 2025.
Rigalleau V, Pucheux Y, Couffinhal T, Tessier FJ, Howsam M, Rubin S, Helmer C, Alkhami F, Larroumet A, Blanco L, Barbet-Massin M-A, Ferriere A, Mohammedi K, Foussard N. Skin autofluorescence of advanced glycation end-products, glycemic memory, and diabetes complications. Diabetes Metab. 2025;51(1):101600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabet.2024.101600
Zureik A, Couturier A, Delcourt C. Evolution of ophthalmological care in adult with diabetes in France between 2010 and 2022: a nationwide study. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2025;263(6):1553-64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-025-06793-x
Last News
PUBLIC HEALTH SEMINAR : "The impact of viruses in the brain : a serious pathway for prevention ?
Seminars
The F-SWIFT Project : Electronic Collection of Symptoms and Quality of Life in Dialysis Patients
New project
THESIS DEFENCE : EVGENIA PREKA - 17/12/2025
Evènement
Symposium “Research on the Biology and Diseases of Ageing in Bordeaux”
Evènement
ALIENOR study, final event: 1,000 looks at eye health
Focus
THESIS DEFENCE : LISA LE GALL
Non classé
Blood pressure variability, a new risk factor for AMD
Major publication
HDR Bénédicte Merle
Evènement
CRCN Inserm 2025 – Congratulations to Morgane Linard on her success
Prix et nomination
THESE DEFENSE : Bouchra AMARI
Evènement
Exploring the Link Between Infectious Diseases and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Major publication
Retinal morphological changes and susceptibility to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Major publication
Curieux! media highlights our research into air pollution and eye health
Press
SOUTENANCE de THESE : LAURE GAYRAUD
Non classé
THESE DEFENSE : PETRA LARSEN
Non classé
THESIS DEFENSE : Anne-Fleur LEFEBURE
Non classé
CONFERENCE
Nutrition and ocular pathology, what role for the dietician?
CHU Haut-Lévêque
Events
Launch of the GLYCAGEST project on new glycation markers
Events
Video presentation of the Macu-Life project
Focus
Herpes virus and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease – HerpBioMA project
New project
Launch of the ANR BIOMAC project on blood biomarkers for age-related macular degeneration
Events
Press Release: Air pollution and retinal neurodegeneration in residents of Bordeaux
Press
Could retinal photographs allow early detection of people at risk of dementia ?
Press
Haemoglobin trajectories in chronic kidney disease
Major publication
New Macu-Life Project: Evaluation of the relationship between our lifestyles and the development of AMD
News
February 3, 2023:
"Doing with" seminar - What effect on my posture as a public health researcher?
Seminars
PhD and startuper: Interview with Soufiane Ajana former PhD student in the BPH LEHA team
Focus
Soufiane Ajana from our LEHA team has been selected by Microsoft to join a development programme
Awards & nominations
Prix ISEE Laure Gayraud Doctorante
Awards & nominations
Classification des aliments selon leur degré de transformation: NOVA n’est pas aussi robuste qu’il n’y parait !
Press
Exposition solaire professionnelle et santé de la peau et des yeux : le projet EXPOLUX
NewsMembers
AmariBouchra
PhD student in EpidemiologyBarqueroAlicia
PhD Student in EpidemiologyChuyVirginie
Junior Assistant Professor, PhD in EpidemiologyCougnard-GrégoireAudrey
Ingénieur de Recherche, PhDDelcourtCécile
Directrice de Recherche Inserm - Directrice de l'équipeDriolletBénédicte
EpidemiologistFaureLéa
PhD student in EpidemiologyFeartCatherine
Chargée de recherche INSERMGayraudLaure
PhD Student in EpidemiologyHarambatJérôme
MD PhDHucteauEmilie
Ingénieure d'études - StatisticienneKayembe MulumbaBlondy
PhD Candidate in EpidemiologyKOROBELNIKJean-Francois
Professeur des Universités Praticien HospitalierLamireauThierry
LarsenPetra
MD PhD, FEBOLe GallLisa
PhD student in EpidemiologyLe GoffMelanie
Ingénieur d'études - StatisticienneLima RebouçasSara Cristina
Postdoctoral researcher in EpidemiologyLinardMorgane
Chargée de recherche INSERM, MD PhDMerleBenedicte
Tenured Researcher (Chargée de Recherche INSERM - CRCN)MivielleSylvie
Assistante de Gestion Administrative et FinancièrePietrowskiMarie-Anne
PhD Student in EpidemiologyPimenta de MirandaAudrey
PhD student in EpidemiologyPrezelin-ReyditMathilde
Néphrologue --MD PhD studentSCHWEITZERCEDRIC
MD FEBO Professeur des Universités Praticien Hospitalier