Bryan Johnson reveals incurable autoimmune gastritis diagnosis

Bryan Johnson reveals incurable autoimmune gastritis diagnosis

Tech entrepreneur and biohacker Bryan Johnson has announced he is battling an incurable autoimmune disease that causes his stomach to eat itself. The 48-year-old, known for his pursuit of immortality and a rigorous health regimen to reduce biological age, revealed the diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis (AIG) in social media posts on June 30 and July 1.

AIG is a chronic condition where the immune system attacks acid-producing parietal cells in the stomach lining. This process impairs the absorption of vitamin B12 and iron, which can lead to anemia and nutritional deficiency. Over a longer horizon, the disease increases the risk of stomach cancer. Johnson noted that between 2% and 5% of people have the disease, though he suggests the actual number is likely higher because the condition often hides.

The diagnosis follows a decade of undetected progression. Johnson reported having low levels of ferritin, a protein that stores iron, for 11 years. Because he did not have anemia at the time, these markers were often dismissed by medical standards of care. Johnson previously believed his low iron was linked to his plant-based diet, heavy exercise, and use of saunas and hyperbaric oxygen, all of which increase the body's demand for iron.

The breakthrough occurred in May after Johnson overhauled his medical team as part of a $1 million per year longevity program called Immortals Care. His team conducted a colonoscopy to rule out cancer, followed by a bi-directional endoscopy of the entire intestinal tract and blood biomarker analysis. The tests showed anti-parietal-cell antibodies measuring more than five times the normal limit. Five stomach biopsies confirmed early atrophy confined to the acid-producing lining.

Johnson linked this diagnosis to a lifelong history of autoimmune issues. He was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at 21 and managed it with Armour Thyroid and levothyroxine. He observed that iron and thyroid function feed each other, as low iron impairs the conversion of thyroid hormone into its active form, while an underactive thyroid impairs how the body uses iron.

Reflecting on the origins of the disease, Johnson attributed the autoimmune process to a period of decline during his early years. He described a childhood of sugary cereal, soda, and fast food. While he had healthy years in his early 20s, he stated that the stress of building a business and becoming a father of three led him to gain 40 lbs and fall into a deep, chronic depression. He believes his body began developing the autoimmune processes affecting his thyroid and stomach lining during that timeline.

Despite the irreversible damage and the fact that standard medical care concedes defeat regarding a cure, Johnson intends to try and solve the condition. He recently received a 1,000 mg Monoferric iron infusion to correct his deficiency.

His ongoing strategy involves:

• Routine monitoring of diagnostics including ferritin, iron, B12, gastrin, and chromogranin A.
• Repeated stomach biopsies to track the disease.
• Exploring experimental interventions such as rebuilding regulatory T-cells, engineered cell therapy, and targeting proteins that act as chemical messengers in the immune system.

Johnson, who sold his company Braintree to PayPal for $800 million in 2013, spends roughly $2 million a year on his health. His "Blueprint" protocol includes a 1,977-calorie vegan diet and various supplements. He has previously undergone invasive procedures and used his teenage son's blood plasma in an effort to reset his body's age to 18.

The news has drawn mixed reactions. Some supporters view the diagnosis as a new challenge for the biohacker to solve, while critics on X have ridiculed the irony of a man attempting to eliminate death while facing an incurable disease. Johnson responded by stating that in the age of AI and custom-built DNA, no condition should be presumed incurable simply because no one has tried to cure it with the current technological stack.

Johnson previously set a goal of achieving immortality by 2039 and expressed a hope to live until the year 2140, when he would be 160 years old.