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Bryan Johnson, known for spending $2M annually to reverse his body’s aging process, stopped taking a drug that had been tested on mice after experiencing severe side effects.
The businessman had discussed its “longevity benefits” in his Netflix documentary, Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants To Live Forever.
Johnson took 13 milligrams of the immunosuppressant rapamycin biweekly, a medication commonly prescribed to transplant recipients to help avoid organ rejection.
CONNECTED:Bryan Johnson, a man who invests millions in efforts to counteract his body's natural aging, recently revealed the side effects associated with a medication aimed at promoting longevity.
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Though it’s not FDA-approved for anti-aging, rapamycin is being prescribed off-label for that purpose, as it has been shown to extend the healthy lifespan of mice, the NY Post reported.
Johnson had been using rapamycin for five years until he discontinued it last September.
“I use this because it might offer some benefits for longevity,” the 47-year-old shared in his documentary. “This is something that has the longevity community buzzing with excitement.”
“Beyond the longevity community, it still seems a bit bizarre. If you mention, ‘I take a drug that suppresses my immune system,’ people often respond with disbelief, asking, ‘That’s strange! Why on earth would you do something like that?’”
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In a recent social media post, the billionaire revealed that rapamycin had caused several side effects, including skin infections, abnormal levels of fats in his blood, elevated glucose levels, and an increased resting heart rate.
"On November 14, he shared that he has experimented with multiple rapamycin protocols, such as weekly doses of 5, 6, and 10 mg, biweekly doses of 13 mg, and an alternating weekly regimen of 6 and 13 mg, all aimed at maximizing rejuvenation while minimizing side effects."
"Although pre-clinical trials showed significant promise, my team and I ultimately determined that the advantages of long-term Rapamycin treatment are outweighed by its considerable side effects."
Citing a study published in October 2024, he concluded that rapamycin “increased biological aging according to two [measures], while ineffective according to the others.”
For a duration of five years, Johnson administered rapamycin, a substance that has demonstrated the ability to prolong the healthy lifespan in mice.
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Image credits: Netflix/Tudum
In October 2021 Johnson caused controversy by announcing Project Blueprint, a series of treatments aimed at reversing his biological age, Bored Panda previously reported.
This requires taking numerous pills each day, adhering to a precise 2,250-calorie vegan meal plan, and engaging in daily workouts—a routine that is said to cost him around $2 million annually to sustain.
The tech mogul stated that he is succeeding in his mission and now celebrates his birthday every 19 months because he’s “dramatically slowed [his] speed of aging.”
The physicians highlighted in the documentary had earlier expressed worries regarding Johnson's use of rapamycin.
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Dr. Vadim Gladyshev, a medical professor at Harvard Medical School, highlighted the importance of conducting “well-structured experiments” to comprehensively evaluate the anti-aging effects of rapamycin.
Dr. Oliver Zolman expressed his goal to “reverse aging across all 81 organ types,” but cautioned that the antibiotic might lead to “serious bacterial infections, pneumonia, cellulitis, or pharyngitis.”
In May 2023, Johnson made headlines for undergoing a multigenerational plasma exchange with his 70-year-old father, Richard, and his 17-year-old teenage son, Talmage.
Rapamycin is utilized to prevent the body from rejecting organ and bone marrow transplants.
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Image credits: Netflix
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Three months later, he declared that he would halt the blood-swapping therapy, having found no signs of anti-aging advantages from the treatment.
Johnson also started Project Baby Face. “Hearing my face is not an 18 years old’s; commencing project Baby Face. In case you’re wondering, we’ve focused on maximally slowing my speed of aging, now at .76 (ranking #1 on the leaderboard),” he wrote.
The biohacker is convinced that facial fat plays a significant role in how youthfulness is perceived. Consequently, he opted to inject fat from a donor into his own face. According to reports, doctors advised him against using his own fat due to the potential risks, as he was already at a point where losing more could be detrimental to his health.
After the procedure, he experienced an adverse reaction when his body rejected the donor’s fat. “Immediately following the injections, my face began to blow up,” he shared.
Johnson stated that the medication led to various side effects, such as skin infections and a heightened heart rate.
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"Then things took a turn for the worse, spiraling out of control until my vision blurred completely. I was experiencing a severe allergic reaction."
He mentioned, “It was an encouraging technology that filled us with enthusiasm, and we believed it could be an excellent avenue for revitalization. However, due to my intense reaction, we were unable to proceed, leading to the halt after just one treatment.”
In an interview with Good Morning Britain, the anti-aging mogul said his goal is to make “death optional.”
The technology tycoon consumes numerous pills each day and adheres to a rigorous diet in his quest to be the "first generation that won't face death."
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Image credits: Netflix
Image credits: Netflix
“We dare to ask, will we be the first generation to not die?” Project Blueprint’s website notes in a section titled “Rebel against aging.”
Johnson has also developed a health app called Don’t Die that lets users track “how much daily progress they are making towards longevity best practices.”
"A reader noted, 'He's letting life pass him by because he's too busy worrying about it.'"
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View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data.
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