A so-called 'biohacker' who claims he spends $2 million a year on treatments to reduce his biological age is a 'human guinea pig' for an experiment in 'gene enhancement'.
Bryan Johnson is a 46-year-old tech mogul who has been thrust into the media spotlight for his efforts to turn back the clock on his aging process.
And we're not just talking very expensive face cream here. Johnson reportedly used his own son's blood in some treatments, as well as adhering to strict diets and counting his night-time erections.
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Johnson is part of a group of people who volunteered for a $25,000 a pop treatment in 'genetic enhancement'.
Because that doesn't sound like the start of a sci-fi horror movie in the slightest.
The treatment from a company called Minicircle is backed by tech billionaire Peter Thiel and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. It is carried out on Roatán, a tropical island just off the coast of Honduras.
But why this location?
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Well, because of the complete lack of regulation, of course.
Johnson said that the treatment could enable him to reach his goal of living to be 200 years old.
He told Bloomberg: “We’ve built out the basics of diet, exercise, sleep and all the stuff we know we should do.
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“But that’s not going to get me to 200 years of age. Gene therapies have the promise of doing that.”
But what exactly does the gene therapy do?
Well, it aims to create more follistatin in the body. This is a protein which triggers a process in the body connected to muscle production.
And it turns out that, due to his high profile, Johnson will not be charged for his 'gene therapy' treatment while there.
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Minicircle co-founder Mac Davies told Bloomberg News: “He’s by far the most high-profile person to come down here.
“Bryan is giving us something worth more than what we would charge him.”
The 'treatment' has been met with scepticism by members of the scientific community, and does not have peer-reviewed evidence to support it.
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Neuroscientist Christin Glorioso wrote: “These have no evidence for working, don’t make sense from a scientific perspective and likely will kill someone by inducing cancer or liver failure.”
Johnson's daily routine consists of intense workouts, a strict vegan diet which never exceeds 2,250 calories.
He claims that the process is already working, telling the BBC: "My left ear is 64, my fitness tests say I'm 18, my heart is 37, my diaphragm strength is 18."
Topics: Health, News, US News, Weird, Bryan Johnson