The number of people aged 65 and over is expected to increase by 36% between now and 2050 in metropolitan France, according to Insee, and this growth will continue until 2070.
No surprise that living longer in good health is a hot topic in scientific research, with experts predicting major advances in coming years.
In the meantime, there is plenty that people can do in terms of lifestyle and prevention. The Connexion reports from this summer's Genii Longevity conference in Geneva.
The latest health data
Healthspan – the number of years a person can expect to be in good health – has been increasing in France throughout this century and the latest figures show that on average a 65-year-old woman can expect to live in good health another 12 years (age 77) and a man another 10.5 years (75.5). This is well above the European average.
Experts from France were among the speakers at the recent Genii Longevity conference in Geneva, which explored how new technologies, lifestyle changes, and future medicines could help delay or prevent age-related frailty and disease.
They included Dr Dmitry Bulavin of the Ircan institute of research into cancer and ageing, in Nice, who spoke of how they are seeking to bring organisations together to build a major "anti-aging community in Nice (read more here), and the creators of new apps to optimise health.
“The pursuit of healthy longevity is something that can unite us all,” said Dr Ilia Stambler, chairman of International Longevity Alliance, a French foundation which organised the conference along with Vetek Association and Kenes.
“That is especially important now, in these times of conflict and global uncertainty.”
Prevention is key
Many speakers at Genii Longevity stressed how we can all take action towards prevention of age-related decline.
Dr Anna Erat, of the University of St Gallen in Switzerland, said: “Longevity medicine is the next level – integrating genetics, epigenetics, AI – but it cannot exist without proper preventative fundamentals.
“About 80% of premature deaths from all causes can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle and environment. For cancer, around 30-50% could be avoided. A lack of physical activity is one of the main causes.”
Dr Erat described simple steps that can make a big difference: around 150–180 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise weekly, plus strength training twice a week.
Treatments on the horizon
In private longevity clinics, drugs are increasingly prescribed ‘off label’ – not for the precise condition they were licensed for – where this is considered medically justified. An example is Ozempic, which was originally approved for diabetes but has been increasingly prescribed for obesity (and is now officially licensed in France for this).
Other therapies are already being explored. Stem cell treatments, for example, show promise in joint problems:
“We can harvest the cells from the patient’s own body, filter them, and reinject them to stimulate cartilage growth,” Dr Erat said.
Other emerging areas include the use of NAD+, which helps with cell repair and energy, and DHEA, a hormone that declines with age.
Smart devices that track real-time health data also offer “a super opportunity” to support long-term health, she said (see box on start-ups).
But the biggest challenge is making these options accessible.
“By 2050, two billion people will be over 60. If we can shift even a fraction of healthcare spending from chronic disease to prevention, we could save money and lives,” she said. “Unfortunately, most of what I do in longevity medicine is still paid out of pocket — but let’s try to change that.”
Longevity is a rights issue too
Dr Alejandro Bonilla Garcia, chair of the NGO Committee on Aging, which lobbies the UN, said countries with good social protections – such as France – are where people will benefit the most from advances.
He added: “There’s now a group of UN countries and agencies working on a legally-binding convention on the rights of older people. It’s not just about people living longer – it’s about ensuring they live with rights and eliminating obstacles. We hope to have a convention adopted by 2026 so a wider group can benefit from longevity.”
AI and whole-body imaging
Another cutting-edge development is the growing use of total-body MRI scans for early detection of disease.
French doctor Julien Frandon of Revoscan in Geneva explained how recent advances mean high-quality scans can now be done in just 15 minutes.
“Each scan produces 6,000 to 7,000 images – far too many for one doctor to analyse,” he said. “That’s where AI comes in. But we also need teams of specialists, not just one radiologist.”
Rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, he said the goal is to spot subtle, early changes in body composition, organ texture, and volume – often before disease develops.
“It’s not just prevention. It’s a whole new kind of medicine, one based on risk, prediction and empowering people to take control of their health.”
Each person’s MRI data becomes an “image-based fingerprint” of how they are ageing, offering the chance to act before serious illness takes hold.
At present, full body scans are not offered by the French health service, but Dr Dominik Thor of the Geneva College of Longevity Science told The Connexion he hopes it will become routine in the next decade.
In the meantime, following cancer screening programmes and regularly asking for a “good panel of blood tests will get you a long way”, he said.
Diet plays key role
Geneva-based Dr Pablo Bueno said diet plays a central role in health, from portion control and calorie intake to the timing of fasting periods between meals.
He advised eating more unprocessed, fibre-rich foods that support gut bacteria.
“Paleo or Mediterranean diets tend to work best,” he said. These feed beneficial microbes, while fermented foods (such as choucroute or Activia yoghurts) are probiotics, adding new healthy bacteria.
Other tips included “mindful” eating, good dental hygiene – including tongue-scraping – and avoiding excessive supplements: “Two or three that are well-targeted is better than overloading your liver.”
In future, he said, precise analysis of the micro-organisms inside an individual’s gut is expected to lead to more tailored advice.
A multipronged approach
Some researchers are already testing more experimental therapies.
Dr Vladimir Leshko of Unlimited Bio, based in Honduras, said: “We aim to combine lifestyle with therapies – from gene and cell therapies to small molecules and blood plasma treatments. Whatever helps.”
It is likely a combination of therapies, addressing different aging processes, will give the best results, he said. This approach is also true of lifestyle changes, he added.
"The more boxes you tick, the more benefits you gain for health and life expectancy: aerobic exercise improves your cardiovascular system, high-intensity training improves your ability to take in and use oxygen, weight lifting increases strength and muscle mass, good sleep helps prevent dementia, managing stress can help counter depression, managing diet reduces obesity and diabetes risk.”
