Bryan Johnson , a billionaire tech entrepreneur who turned biohacker, has been in the news for his unorthodox quest to reverse his aging process. With a jaw-dropping $2 million-a-year budget, Johnson has embarked on a quest to rewind the biological clock in a bid for immortality. Renowned for high-tech medical stunts, including transfusions of his son's younger blood and full plasma exchanges, Johnson's pursuit of "living forever" has landed him in the family limelight. But in his latest confession, Johnson admits that his pursuit of youth may have caused more harm than good in mysterious ways.
Biohacker Bryan Johnson's age mistake: Five-year test of rapamycin for anti-aging
One of the foundation components of Johnson's anti-aging treatment was rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug originally created for organ transplant patients. In recent years, it has been adopted by anti-aging proponents, with some suggesting it can add years to lifespans. Johnson, who was inspired by a 2009 study in which rapamycin extended mice lifespans by as much as 14%, and a 2023 human trial where results were encouraging, added the drug to his regimen. Johnson experimented with the drug for five years, changing his dosage to find the optimal mix of potential gain and risk.
Bryan Johnson’s unexpected rapamycin side effects and the study that changed everything
Instead of rejuvenating as he had anticipated, Johnson began developing unsettling side effects. The widely promoted drug created mouth ulcers, slow-to-heal wounds, cholesterol abnormalities, and even spikes in his blood sugar level. Most chilling, however, was the spike in his resting heart rate, which he finds to be an ultimate indicator of sleep and recuperation. Such unexpected side effects prompted Johnson to take a time-out and review his approach.
Compounding Johnson's worry was a new Yale University study that refuted the previous claims of rapamycin's benefits. The study found that rather than reversing aging, rapamycin could actually accelerate it. Researchers found that the drug had 16 adverse effects on epigenetic markers, causing biological aging to move more quickly. For Johnson, this was a wake-up call, testifying that his pursuit of youth had perhaps backfired.
Bryan Johnson’s experiment highlights the dangers of biohacking
In his open video, Johnson acknowledged the irony of the events. He chuckled at himself, declaring, "To those of you laughing at home, I'm laughing with you," meaning that he wasn't humiliated by the setback. He guaranteed that he had stopped taking rapamycin but was careful to specify that this was not the end — this was only a reset. Johnson demands experimentation, documenting his journey, and writing about success as well as failures. "It's terrific to talk about the successes and the failures," he stated, proving himself eager to learn from all along the way.
Johnson's biohacking experiments are high-risk, both economically and biologically. As a privately funded experiment, his odyssey is an open spectacle of the lengths one can go in the pursuit of immortality. Although other people commend Johnson as a visionary for exploring the limits of human longevity, others question his method. The story of his experience with rapamycin is a strong reminder that even the most carefully planned moves can have unexpected consequences, especially in the war against aging.
In the world of biohacking, where science and human biology are tested to the extremes, Johnson's experience raises serious questions. Can immortality be achieved by technology and modern science? Or is it an experiment fraught with dangers yet to be discovered? The future of biohacking remains unclear, but Johnson's experience attests to the dangers and risks of pursuing eternal youth.
Also Read | Sultan of Brunei’s $30 billion fortune powers his collection of 7,000 cars and the world’s largest palace
Biohacker Bryan Johnson's age mistake: Five-year test of rapamycin for anti-aging
One of the foundation components of Johnson's anti-aging treatment was rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug originally created for organ transplant patients. In recent years, it has been adopted by anti-aging proponents, with some suggesting it can add years to lifespans. Johnson, who was inspired by a 2009 study in which rapamycin extended mice lifespans by as much as 14%, and a 2023 human trial where results were encouraging, added the drug to his regimen. Johnson experimented with the drug for five years, changing his dosage to find the optimal mix of potential gain and risk.
Bryan Johnson’s unexpected rapamycin side effects and the study that changed everything
Instead of rejuvenating as he had anticipated, Johnson began developing unsettling side effects. The widely promoted drug created mouth ulcers, slow-to-heal wounds, cholesterol abnormalities, and even spikes in his blood sugar level. Most chilling, however, was the spike in his resting heart rate, which he finds to be an ultimate indicator of sleep and recuperation. Such unexpected side effects prompted Johnson to take a time-out and review his approach.
Compounding Johnson's worry was a new Yale University study that refuted the previous claims of rapamycin's benefits. The study found that rather than reversing aging, rapamycin could actually accelerate it. Researchers found that the drug had 16 adverse effects on epigenetic markers, causing biological aging to move more quickly. For Johnson, this was a wake-up call, testifying that his pursuit of youth had perhaps backfired.
Bryan Johnson’s experiment highlights the dangers of biohacking
In his open video, Johnson acknowledged the irony of the events. He chuckled at himself, declaring, "To those of you laughing at home, I'm laughing with you," meaning that he wasn't humiliated by the setback. He guaranteed that he had stopped taking rapamycin but was careful to specify that this was not the end — this was only a reset. Johnson demands experimentation, documenting his journey, and writing about success as well as failures. "It's terrific to talk about the successes and the failures," he stated, proving himself eager to learn from all along the way.
Johnson's biohacking experiments are high-risk, both economically and biologically. As a privately funded experiment, his odyssey is an open spectacle of the lengths one can go in the pursuit of immortality. Although other people commend Johnson as a visionary for exploring the limits of human longevity, others question his method. The story of his experience with rapamycin is a strong reminder that even the most carefully planned moves can have unexpected consequences, especially in the war against aging.
In the world of biohacking, where science and human biology are tested to the extremes, Johnson's experience raises serious questions. Can immortality be achieved by technology and modern science? Or is it an experiment fraught with dangers yet to be discovered? The future of biohacking remains unclear, but Johnson's experience attests to the dangers and risks of pursuing eternal youth.
Also Read | Sultan of Brunei’s $30 billion fortune powers his collection of 7,000 cars and the world’s largest palace
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