The conference The Epigenetics of Cognition: Mechanisms, Health, and Disease, taking place on 2–4 June 2027 at CaixaForum València (Spain), will explore the fundamental role of epigenetic mechanisms in cognition, health, and disease, with a focus on memory, neural plasticity, and behavior across physiological and pathological contexts.
The nervous system of animals displays astounding adaptive capabilities that enable survival in ever-changing environmental conditions. This flexibility at the behavioral and cognitive level relies on specific and complex molecular programs, that contribute to the formation, maturation, and continuous plastic adaptation of neuronal circuits. For instance, epigenetic regulation is critical for the development and maturation of neuronal circuits underlying cognitive abilities; different epigenetic modifications of chromatin occur in the nucleus of neuronal cells during memory encoding; and epigenetic dysregulation contributes to numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. Together, these findings highlight the fundamental role of epigenetic mechanisms in cognition, health, and disease, and suggest that targeting epigenetic processes in brain cells may offer promising strategies for neuroprotection, cognitive preservation, and neural restoration.
