blood being drawn from blood bag by medical professional
Chantel Brink
Chantel Brink
May 31, 2023 ·  5 min read

Bryan Johnson, 45, spends $2M and uses teen son’s blood attempting to reduce biological age

Bryan Johnson, a software developer living in Dallas, Texas, harbors an extraordinary plan. To rejuvenate his body and achieve a youthful state akin to that of a teen. The 45-year-old has an estimated net worth of around $400 million. He is driven by a vision to develop a revolutionary internal anti-aging procedure.

Bryan Johnson’s goal is to enhance the function of all his organs

This would include his skin, bladder, brain, penis, heart, and rectum to mirror that of an 18-year-old. The quest for eternal youth has proven to be a costly journey demanding huge amounts of money to cover cutting-edge medical tests and treatments. Additionally, the expertise of specialists who design an optimal regimen for Bryan’s diet, sleep, and exercise. As well as a dedicated team of doctors to guide him through this trying journey.

This plan means sticking to a strict routine, including firm sleep patterns, and following a vegan diet calculated to 1,977 calories. Added to that, getting in one hour of daily exercise (including high-intensity training three times a week). And facing a range of modern medical procedures. “What I do may sound extreme, but I’m trying to prove that self-harm and decay are not inevitable,” Johnson said.

What does his daily routine look like?

Johnson’s daily routine is designed to support his pursuit of longevity. He begins each morning at 5 am, embarking on a series of practices aimed at optimizing his health. This includes taking a regimen of two dozen supplements, then a tough hour-long workout session, and drinking a green juice infused with creatine and collagen peptides. He brushes and flosses his teeth as part of his oral hygiene routine while rinsing with tea-tree oil and antioxidant gel.

Bryan Johnson is on the path to a younger self
Image Credit: bryanjohnson_ Instagram

Before going to bed, Johnson employs glasses that block blue light for a duration of two hours—ensuring a restful sleep. Additionally, he maintains a constant vigil over his vital signs, monitoring them regularly. Johnson undergoes monthly medical procedures, such as ultrasounds, MRIs, colonoscopies, and blood tests to sustain his desired plan.

He works out for an hour a day
Image Credit: bryanjohnson_ Instagram

During his sleep, Johnson is connected to a machine that tracks the frequency of nighttime erections, a measure associated with overall health. Furthermore, he consistently records various metrics, including weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, blood glucose levels, and heart-rate variations, on a daily basis. These diligent practices exemplify Johnson’s commitment to monitoring and optimizing his well-being in his quest for an extended, healthy life.

Bryan’s son, Talmage, plays a significant role in supporting him throughout this process, particularly in the later stages

Bryan has enlisted the assistance of his teenage son, taking an unconventional step in his latest endeavor by designating him as a “blood boy.” Although the term may sound eerie, its implications are quite odd. In the pursuit of eternal youth, the wealthiest individuals are now delving into a peculiar practice where they buy plasma from “blood boys.” These are young and healthy donors. They then inject the plasma into their own bloodstream.

This unusual approach aims to halt the effects of Bryan Johnson’s aging and prolong his youthful vitality

While plasma transfusions traditionally serve medical purposes such as treating conditions like liver disease, blood clotting disorders, or burns, a group of anti-aging enthusiasts believe something else is possible. They believe that infusing themselves with younger plasma holds the potential to rejuvenate their bodies. Therefore possibly extending their overall health and vitality.

However, in this controversial process, the donors themselves receive only a tiny portion of the huge sums of money paid for the procedure. Moreover, these donors must undergo rigorous tests to ensure they meet the specific health and age requirements for this purpose.

So Bryn decided to do something that may be frowned upon by many

Bryan decided to forgo using a random donor and instead opted to utilize his own blood and tissues. Thus sparing others from the extensive testing required for qualification. In what has been termed as a trigenerational exchange of blood plasma, Bryan, his son Talmage, and even Bryan’s father Richard, aged 70, have become involved in the process.

Both his father and son are part of the anti-ageing process
Image Credit: bryanjohnson_ Instagram

The procedure begins with Talmage having a liter of blood drawn, which is then separated into platelets, red and white blood cells, and plasma using a machine. Talmage’s plasma is injected into his veins, followed by Bryan doing the same. Subsequently, Bryan’s plasma is injected into Richard’s veins. At the same time, a liter of blood is drawn from Richard in a similar manner.

The FDA has previously warned against the use of plasma injections

Despite the FDA’s previous warning against using plasma injections for anti-aging purposes due to the lack of proven clinical benefits, Bryan and others who undergo this procedure firmly believe it to be effective. During an interview with Bloomberg, Bryan’s father Richard expressed his emotional response: “Yeah, I won the lottery. There has to be a benefit in getting this much volume of him.

Bryan Johnson and his father Richard
Image Credit: bryanjohnson_ Instagram

Is there actually any evidence that suggests this may work?

While the potential benefits for Bryan and Richard, as well as their organs, remain uncertain, researchers are skeptical about the success of this approach. Charles Brenner, a City of Hope National Medical Center scientist, voiced his opinion to Bloomberg. Describing the procedure as “gross, evidence-free, and relatively dangerous.” Emphasizing that there is not enough evidence to support its viability as a human treatment. In the coming months, Bryan hopes to publish the data outcomes from this technique, providing further insights into its potential effects.

Jeff Toll, an internist who is involved in Bryan Johnson’s healthcare team, expressed his perspective on Johnson’s approach by stating, “I treat athletes and Hollywood celebrities, and no one is pushing the envelope as much as Bryan.” This comment highlights the unique and ambitious nature of Johnson’s journey in the realm of anti-aging and health optimization, as observed by a medical professional familiar with working with high-profile individuals.

Keep Reading: Things Got Really Weird When Scientists Gave Young Mice the Blood of Old Mice

Sources

  1. Tech mogul Bryan Johnson, 45, ‘spends $2 million per year to get 18-year-old body’.” NY Post. Ariel Zilber. January 25, 2023
  2. He spends $2 million a year to look young. Now, he’s taken the blood of his teen son.” Community Press. Sharon Kirkey. May 23, 2023
  3. Instagram. bryanjohnson_