
LEHA
Lifelong Exposures Health & Aging
Dr. Cécile DELCOURT, PhD, Research Director at Inserm, LEHA Director

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.
Main publications
Acar N, Merle BMJ, Ajana S, He Z, Gregoire S, Hejblum BP, Martine L, Buaud B, Bron AM, Creuzot-Garcher CP, Korobelnik JF, Berdeaux O, Jacqmin-Gadda H, Bretillon L, Delcourt C, Biomarkers of Lipid S, metabolism in Retinal ageing Study G. Predicting the retinal content in omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular-degeneration. Clin Transl Med. 2021 Jul;11(7):e404. https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.404
Ajana S, Cougnard-Gregoire A, Colijn JM, Merle BMJ, Verzijden T, de Jong P, Hofman A, Vingerling JR, Hejblum BP, Korobelnik JF, Meester-Smoor MA, Ueffing M, Jacqmin-Gadda H, Klaver CCW, Delcourt C, Consortium E-R. Predicting Progression to Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration from Clinical, Genetic, and Lifestyle Factors Using Machine Learning. Ophthalmology. 2021 Apr;128(4):587-897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.08.031
Andre P, Pais de Barros JP, Mj Merle B, Samieri C, Helmer C, Delcourt C, Feart C. Mediterranean diet and prudent diet are both associated with low circulating esterified 3-hydroxy fatty acids, a proxy of LPS burden, among older adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Sep 1;114(3):1080-91. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqab126
Linard M, Baillet M, Letenneur L, Garrigue I, Catheline G, Dartigues JF, Peres K, Helmer C. Herpes simplex virus, early neuroimaging markers and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Transl Psychiatry. 2021 Jul 31;11(1):414. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01532-2
Merle BMJ, Cougnard-Gregoire A, Korobelnik JF, Schalch W, Etheve S, Rougier MB, Feart C, Samieri C, Delyfer MN, Delcourt C. Plasma Lutein, a Nutritional Biomarker for Development of Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Alienor Study. Nutrients. 2021 Jun 15;13(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13062047
Morillon C, Le Goff M, Gattoussi S, Korobelnik JF, Rougier MB, Schweitzer C, Delcourt C, Delyfer MN. Incidence, Progression, and Risk Factors of Epiretinal Membranes in the Elderly. Retina. 2021 Mar 1;41(3):495-504. https://doi.org/10.1097/iae.0000000000002871
Chuy V, Gentreau M, Artero S, Berticat C, Rigalleau V, Peres K, Helmer C, Samieri C, Feart C. Simple Carbohydrate Intake and Higher Risk for Physical Frailty Over 15 Years in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2022 Jan 7;77(1):10-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glab243
Prezelin-Reydit M, Madden I, Macher M-A, Salomon R, Sellier-Leclerc A-L, Roussey G, Lahoche A, Garaix F, Decramer S, Ulinski T, Fila M, Dunand O, Merieau E, Pongas M, Zaloszyc A, Baudouin V, Berard E, Couchoud C, Leffondre K, Harambat J. Preemptive Kidney Transplantation Is Associated With Transplantation Outcomes in Children: Results From the French Kidney Replacement Therapy Registry. Transplantation. 2022 Feb 1;106(2):401-11. https://doi.org/10.1097/tp.0000000000003757
Last News


February 3, 2023:
"Doing with" seminar - What effect on my posture as a public health researcher?
Events

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
Prix ISEE Laure Gayraud Doctorante
Awards
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
AjanaSoufiane
Postdoctoral Research ScientistAmariBouchra
PhD student in EpidemiologyArnouldLouis
DocteurBardinetJeanne
PhD student in EpidemiologyChuyVirginie
Assistant Professor | PhD student in EpidemiologyCougnard-GrégoireAudrey
Ingénieur de Recherche, PhDDelcourtCécile
Directrice de Recherche Inserm - Directrice de l'équipeDelyferMarie-Noëlle
Professeur des Universités - Praticien HospitalierDriolletBénédicte
PhD in EpidemiologyFaureLéa
Doctorante en ÉpidémiologieFeartCatherine
Chargée de recherche INSERMGattoussiSarra
GayraudLaure
PhD Student in EpidemiologyGontierBrigitte
OrthoptisteHarambatJérôme
MD PhDHelmerCatherine
Directrice de Recherche InsermHucteauEmilie
Ingénieure d'études - StatisticienneJacquemotAnne-Fleur
Doctorante en santé publiqueKOROBELNIKJean-Francois
Professeur des Universités Praticien HospitalierLamireauThierry
LarsenPetra
MD, FEBOLe GallLisa
PhD student EpidemiologyLe GoffMelanie
StatisticienneLinardMorgane
Post-doc, MD PhDMerleBenedicte
Tenured Researcher (Chargée de Recherche INSERM)MivielleSylvie
Assistante de Gestion Administrative et FinancièrePrezelin-ReyditMathilde
Néphrologue --MD PhD studentReboucas-RondeauSara
PhD Student in EpidemiologySCHWEITZERCEDRIC
MD FEBO