Fabien Pifferi

Biography

Energy metabolism and cognitive and behavioral functions in a non-human primate, the Microcebus murinus. Using various nutritional interventions (caloric restriction, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation), his work demonstrates their influence on cognitive and behavioral parameters. Fabien Pifferi is particularly interested in memory capacity, spontaneous locomotor activity and circadian rhythms, notably through electroencephalography monitoring of sleep-wake rhythms during aging. In 2012, he received the Young Researcher Award from the French-speaking Society of Chronobiology for his work on the relationship between nutrition and biological rhythms. For several years now, he has been exploring the importance of the endogenous period (the period that occurs when there is no environmental cue to drive rhythms) on the aging process and longevity in relation to energy metabolism.

Conference: Is the biological clock at the heart of the aging process?

During aging, the capacity of organisms to adapt to the time of their environment is altered, which can have major consequences for the health and adaptive value of individuals. The study of these modifications is therefore an important issue in health and adaptation biology, and requires the use of an appropriate animal model such as the microcebus (Microcebus murinus), a small primate with pronounced biological rhythms. Studies carried out in this species have provided us with valuable information on the role of biological rhythms (both circadian and seasonal) and the biological clock on health and longevity. At the heart of this relationship is the concept of the endogenous period, the period expressed by an organism when no environmental factors indicate the passage of time. This period, which is generally close to 24 hours in mammals, alters with age and could play a part in the aging process. First, data showing the relationship between aging and the biological clock will be presented. Secondly, the central role of the clock in the aging process will be demonstrated, through work on the alternation of the seasons. A final illustration of the major role played by the biological clock in the aging process will be provided by a description of the circadian resonance theory. This theory suggests that the closer the endogenous period of an organism or species is to 24 hours, the greater its longevity. The first physiological data exploring the mechanisms underlying this theory in the microcebe will be presented, and a new interpretation of the theory will be proposed.