Biohacker Bryan Johnson has revealed he has a rare autoimmune disease whereby his stomach is “eating itself”.
The 48-year-old entrepreneur, who is known for his extreme anti-ageing protocols, said he discovered he had Autoimmune Gastritis (AIG) in May and is “going to try and solve it”. However, the longevity influencer believes he has had it for longer.
Commenting on treating his hypothyroidism on X, he said: “By taking these pills daily, my body was able to operate as though my thyroid was functioning properly. What I didn’t know was that something else was going on inside my body: my stomach had begun attacking itself. But there was no routine test to find out and I didn’t have any symptoms.”
Despite AIG being an incurable condition, Johnson is determined to fight back.
“In the age of AI, multiomics, and custom-built DNA, proteins, and cells, no condition should be presumed incurable simply because no one has yet tried to cure it with today's stack,” he said.
Johnson has previously revealed that in order to extend his life and reverse ageing, he has spent millions of dollars over the last four years to reduce the biological age of his vital organs to that of an 18-year-old.
But who is Mr Johnson? Here’s a closer look at his background and everything he does to prevent ageing.
Who is Bryan Johnson?
Bryan Johnson is an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist turned viral biohacker sensation, best known for his anti-aging attempt that he refers to as “Project Blueprint”.
He was born in Provo, Utah, and graduated with an International Studies from Brigham Young University in 2003, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2007.
He is the creator and former CEO of OS Fund, a venture capital firm that makes investments in early-stage technology and scientific businesses, and Kernel, a startup that makes gadgets that track and record brain activity.
Additionally, Mr Johnson founded Braintree, a business that specialises in web and mobile payment systems for e-commerce businesses, and served as its chairman and CEO before selling it to PayPal in 2013.
He was raised Mormon but left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 24 after falling into a deep depression that lasted 10 years.
He said in an August 2023 interview on The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: “It was torture. When you’re raised Mormon, it is your singular reality and identity of existence. It’s everything you are as a human.”
Mr Johnson has two boys and a girl from a previous marriage.
What does Bryan Johnson do to prevent ageing?
In 2021, Mr Johnson revealed Project Blueprint, an anti-aging initiative in which he had six monthly one-litre plasma transfusions, one of which was donated by his son. However, he has since claimed he will not receive the transfusions again because they have not been beneficial.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), transfusions like the one Mr Johnson received have no advantages and could even be dangerous. So instead, he has gone down a different path.
In an interview with podcaster Jay Shetty on his show On Purpose, Mr Johnson recently disclosed his regular diet. In an effort to reduce his biological age, the entrepreneur has had plant-based diet for a long time and follows a comprehensive supplement regimen.
Typically, he starts his day by taking 54 supplements and working out for an hour. His daily calorie intake is approximately 2,500, and he eats every meal between 6am and 11.30am.
An average male should consume 2,500 kcal per day, according to NHS recommendations.
On the podcast, he revealed that he was against cheat meals, adding: “Now the idea of eating a piece of pizza or a whole pizza or like a doughnut or something just makes me sick. Because if I'm going to do it, there'll be like five seconds of maybe enjoyment and then you've got like an entire day of misery,”
Instead, he prefers to eat “a lot of broccoli, cauliflower, lentils, hemp, pea protein, hemp protein, berries, nuts, seeds”.
He splits his meals into three: the first meal of the day usually consists of broccoli, cauliflower, black lentils, ginger, and garlic; the second meal is made with macadamia nuts, walnuts, flax seeds, pomegranate juice, and berries, combined with pea and hemp protein.
He finishes his day off with a general mix of vegetables, berries, nuts, and seeds.
Mr Johnson launched his Blueprint product line on Amazon to share his youth-preserving regimen with the general public in the US. Among the products in the assortment are cold-pressed olive oil and cocoa powder, as well as multivitamins, NAC supplements, and other capsules that promise impressive health advantages.
He also launched a Supplement Stack, which includes eight daily pills and a month's supply of a supplement drink, is available for individuals who want to maximise their health goals.
