Biohacker Bryan Johnson, known for his quest to eliminate death, has revealed he is suffering from Autoimmune Gastritis (AIG), an incurable condition that causes the stomach lining to be attacked by the body's own immune system. Johnson, 48, shared the diagnosis on social media, describing the disease as his stomach "eating itself."
AIG affects an estimated two to five percent of the population, though Johnson suggests the actual number may be higher due to the condition's tendency to be difficult to diagnose. While standard medical care focuses on managing AIG symptoms, Johnson and his medical team are committed to finding a cure.
Johnson detailed the challenging path to his diagnosis in a lengthy post on X. He noted a personal history of less healthy eating habits in his youth, followed by periods of intense work and stress that coincided with the development of autoimmune processes affecting his thyroid and stomach. He was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 21, a condition he managed for nearly three decades.
The diagnosis of AIG came in May, though Johnson believes he may have had it for an unknown duration. He explained that AIG can lead to irreversible damage, including nutritional deficiencies, anemia, and an elevated risk of cancer over time. For 11 years, he experienced low ferritin levels, a protein crucial for iron storage, without developing anemia. He had attempted various methods to increase his iron levels, all of which proved ineffective.
Johnson now recognizes these persistent low ferritin levels as an early indicator of AIG, which is often overlooked. The disease's symptoms, such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and unexplained weight loss, are non-specific and can be attributed to various other causes, making early detection difficult.
The Diagnostic Process
Johnson's diagnosis was a result of overhauling his medical team this year, in preparation for his $1 million-per-year longevity program, "Immortals Care." A series of tests were conducted, including a colonoscopy that showed no signs of cancer. However, a bi-directional endoscopy and blood biomarker analysis revealed elevated levels of anti-parietal-cell antibodies, a key indicator of AIG. A subsequent stomach biopsy confirmed a weakening of the stomach lining, a clear early sign of the autoimmune disease.
Despite the current medical consensus that AIG is uncurable, Johnson remains optimistic. He stated that standard medical practice often concedes defeat when AIG is identified. However, he and his team plan to pursue experimental treatments. These efforts will involve continuous monitoring of his iron levels and other biological markers, along with further investigations to understand the disease's specifics. Potential experimental approaches may include targeting immune system proteins, rebuilding regulatory T-cells, and engineered cell therapy.
"In the age of AI, multiomics, and custom-built DNA, proteins, and cells, no condition should be presumed incurable simply because no one has yet tried to cure it with today's stack," Johnson asserted, underscoring his belief that new approaches can yield results even for conditions currently deemed untreatable.