Bryan Johnson, a tech entrepreneur turned biohacking enthusiast, has become infamous for his relentless pursuit of reversing aging. Known for his outlandish methods—including plasma infusions from his teenage son and a staggering regimen of 54 daily supplements—Johnson recently hit a roadblock in his quest for immortality.
At 47, Johnson has devoted millions to Project Blueprint, his comprehensive anti-aging initiative aimed at biologically rewinding the clock. His extreme measures, documented in Netflix’s Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, include a vegan diet, rigorous exercise, and even shock treatments targeting intimate areas to restore youthful vitality.
Among his arsenal of anti-aging tools was rapamycin, a drug originally developed as an immunosuppressant but later hailed for its potential to inhibit the mTOR pathway, a mechanism linked to aging and age-related diseases. Johnson described his rapamycin regimen as the most aggressive protocol of its kind, spanning nearly five years with varied dosages.
Despite its promise in preclinical trials, rapamycin became a double-edged sword for Johnson. On social media platform X, he revealed the drug’s unintended effects, including skin infections, lipid abnormalities, elevated glucose levels, and an increased resting heart rate. “Despite the immense potential from pre-clinical trials, my team and I concluded that the benefits of lifelong dosing of rapamycin do not justify the hefty side effects,” he wrote.
A recent preprint study exacerbated concerns, identifying rapamycin as one of several supposed longevity interventions that accelerated aging across 16 epigenetic aging clocks. With no improvement after dosage adjustments, Johnson ultimately decided to discontinue the drug.
Johnson’s aggressive use of rapamycin has sparked debate among longevity researchers. While the drug shows promise in animal studies, experts warn against its unproven safety for long-term use in humans. The Netflix documentary features medical professionals voicing skepticism about Johnson’s experimental approach, highlighting the risks of prioritizing untested interventions over well-established health practices.
Johnson’s health regimen extends far beyond pharmaceuticals. Spending upwards of $2 million annually, his efforts include maintaining a vegan diet, avoiding sun exposure, and adhering to a strict exercise routine.
While some of his methods—such as plasma transfusions—have drawn controversy, others exemplify the broader biohacking movement’s push for individualized, science-driven approaches to health and aging.
