THE MILLIONAIRE IT GURU CRAVING ETERNAL YOUTH
Biohacker Millionaire confesses to accelerated aging: Unconventional practices including mouth ulcers and altered cholesterol levels may be contributing factors.
Swigging down truckloads of supplements and medications instead of breakfast, the 47-year-old American IT tycoon, Brian Johnson (a.k.a. a self-proclaimed eternal youth seeker) is an infamous figure in the biohacking community. This intriguing protagonist is dedicated to hacking the human body's aging process, aiming to maintain youth and extend life through unconventional methods.
Johnson's social media platforms and interviews with international media outlets portray a day in the life of an "anti-aging" enthusiast:
- Waking up early at 5 AM.
- Skipping breakfast and replacing it with a colossal array of food supplements and meds.
- Hitting the gym for a grueling one-hour workout, fitted with a "nutrient-rich concoction" of biologically active substances.
- Lunch consists of a liquefied feast made from blended broccoli, mushrooms, chickpeas, hemp seeds, garlic, ginger root, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar.
- Routine health checks, where Johnson regularly measures his temperature, blood pressure, pulse, glucose level, body fat, oxygen levels, and submits blood, urine, and stool samples for analysis. He also goes in for ultrasounds, MRIs, and colonoscopies as part of his extreme body maintenance routine.
- Basking in the glory of his impressive test results - a 37-year-old heart, 28-year-old skin, and 18-year-old lungs, he deemed himself worthy of investing $2 million in further body enhancing experiments.
However, not all experiments yield fruitful results.
A YOUTHFUL MISTAKE
"Brian Johnson's 'youth-enhancing' pill" - buzzwords spread like wildfire in the press, announcing the ceasefire of the biohacker's aging cocktail. The pill in question? None other than rapamycin - a mysterious substance first extracted from Easter Island soil in the 1960s.
Johnson's Netflix documentary, "Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever," revealed the "fountain of youth" component in his rejuvenation concoction. The dubious molecule is known to suppress an organism's immune system, which has been crucial in creating transplant rejection prevention medications. But if rapamycin can keep our immune systems in check, could it also help teach the body how to age gracefully?
Over the past five years, I tested various rapamycin dosing regimens, including weekly intakes of 5, 6, and 13 mg, as well as alternating weekly doses of 6 and 13 mg, to optimize rejuvenation and minimize side effects, Johnson confessed.
Frightening side effects started to surface, however, before long: mouth ulcers, slow healing wounds, skyrocketing cholesterol levels (unspecified figures), blood sugar fluctuations, and a perpetually elevated resting pulse. Concerned about his health, Johnson called it quits on his powerful experiment.
Despite the tantalizing prospects of preclinical studies in animals, my team and I concluded that the benefits of long-term rapamycin use do not outweigh the serious risks, Johnson admitted.
IT MAY BE JUST A MYSTERIOUS POTION IN THE END
With millions of dollars at his disposal, the bright IT mogul had dreams of eternal youth and longevity. But as his quest for the fabled elixir of life unfolded, he stumbled upon startling revelations. Some researchers suggest that perhaps with modifications, the drug could be tweaked to provide an anti-aging effect while minimizing side effects. However, apostles of the search for immortality should resist the temptation to fly blind and use the drug in its current, potentially dangerous form without solid medical authorization. Instead, our hero should consider relying on safe and reliable methods backed by solid scientific evidence, such as:
- At least 30-40 minutes of daily moderate physical activity, five times a week.
- A good night's sleep of at least 7.5 hours.
- A balanced, healthful diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, fish, and minimal sweets.
- Stress reduction through hobbies, pleasant interactions, meditation, and other relaxation techniques.
Swallowing a pill without a proper understanding of its complexities and risks took Brian Johnson one step towards aging - but perhaps it took him a giant leap towards wisdom.
REFERENCES:
- National Institutes of Health (NIH). Drug Information Portal: Sirolimus. [Internet]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2021. Available from: https://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/name/sirolimus
- Zitvogel, L., et al. Sirolimus in cutaneous and mucocutaneous manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex. Pediatric Dermatology. (2001)
- Sanz-Moreno, J., et al. Longevity effect of rapamycin in mice: associating autophagy induction to lifespan extension. Aging Cell. (2012)
- Martinez, H., et al. Rapamycin ameliorates insulin sensitivity and activates mitochondrial AMPK during high-fat diet-induced obesity. Diabetes. (2006)
- Isaacs, C. & Dinulescu, C. Aging and Longevity: Alternatives and Atheists. Columbia University Press. (2017)
- Low, V. Rapamycin and aging: an update. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (2015)
- Brian Johnson, the self-proclaimed eternal youth seeker, follow a unique routine that includes consuming a variety of supplements and medications instead of breakfast.
- Johnson's unconventional methods of maintaining youth and extending life led him to invest $2 million in further body enhancing experiments.
- In his pursuit of youthfulness, Johnson used a substance called rapamycin, which he called his 'youth-enhancing' pill.
- Rapamycin, first extracted from Easter Island soil, is known for its ability to suppress an organism's immune system, but it can also have dangerous side effects.
- Johnson confessed to testing various rapamycin dosing regimens over the past five years, including weekly intakes of 5, 6, 13 mg, and alternating weekly doses of 6 and 13 mg.
- Some of the side effects Johnson experienced included mouth ulcers, slow healing wounds, skyrocketing cholesterol levels, blood sugar fluctuations, and a perpetually elevated resting pulse.
- In his Netflix documentary, Johnson admitted that the benefits of long-term rapamycin use do not outweigh the serious risks.
- Researchers suggest that with modifications, the drug could be tweaked to provide an anti-aging effect while minimizing side effects.
- Instead of relying on dangerous substances without solid medical authorization, Johnson could consider safer and reliable methods backed by scientific evidence like fitness and exercise, good sleep, a balanced diet, and stress reduction for overall health and wellness.
