Newborn screening: a cornerstone of preventive medicine throughout life.

Visual identity, video production & graphics: Ines Kedjem

  • Prof. Patrick Callier

Professor Patrick Callier’s presentation highlights neonatal screening as a cornerstone of preventive medicine.
The neonatal period represents a critical window to detect severe yet asymptomatic conditions early.
The heel-prick blood test, performed 48 to 72 hours after birth, enables rapid and equitable diagnosis.

Introduced in France in 1972 with phenylketonuria screening, the program has steadily expanded.
It now covers 16 metabolic, endocrine, genetic, and immunological disorders.
Therapeutic advances, including gene therapies, strengthen the value of very early diagnosis.
Neonatal screening significantly reduces infant mortality and prevents diagnostic delay.
More than 40 million children in France have already benefited from the program.
International disparities and ethical challenges remain, particularly regarding genetic testing.
Future developments rely on genomics and artificial intelligence to support more personalized prevention from birth.

Preventive medicine at two stages of life: anticipating modifiable longevity factors

Visual identity, video production & graphics: Ines Kedjem

  • Portrait de Fabrice Denis, expert in prevention, health and well-being

    Prof. Fabrice Denis

Professor Fabrice Denis’ presentation highlights the key role of preventive medicine at two stages of life.
Its core objective is the early identification and correction of modifiable risk factors linked to pathological aging.
While about 50% of longevity is genetic, the remaining half depends on behavioral and environmental determinants.

Prevention could avoid up to 40% of cancers, more than 50% of cardiovascular diseases, and 75% of type 2 diabetes cases.
Midlife, between 40 and 50 years of age, represents a critical window for detecting frailty.
Markers such as sarcopenia, abdominal adiposity, or clonal hematopoiesis (CHIP) help anticipate health risks.
Simple functional tests can assess frailty and predict long-term mortality.
Most individuals present at least one correctable factor or accelerated aging in a specific organ.
Nutrition, physical activity, and sleep are central pillars of healthy longevity.
This approach supports a predictive and personalized model integrating biological, behavioral, and environmental data.