Age reversing CEO Bryan Johnson says his posture was 'killing his brain'. He fixed it with 5 steps

Bryan Johnson said a recent MRI revealed a ticking time bomb—his posture. (Image: bryan_johnson/X)

In a world increasingly defined by sedentary lifestyles and screen time, Bryan Johnson, the controversial anti-aging millionaire entrepreneur, is raising a clarion call about the often-overlooked dangers of poor posture. His recent tweets reveal a startling health scare that turned into a mission to educate others about the importance of maintaining good posture for overall well-being.

Johnson, known for his ambitious quest to reverse aging through science and spending $2 million annually, shared his personal experience following a recent MRI that he claims revealed a ticking time bomb—his posture.

"I didn't realise how terrible my posture was until an MRI showed it was slowly killing my brain," he tweeted. The MRI reportedly indicated that Johnson’s genetically narrow internal jugular veins were exacerbated by his poor posture, dangerously impeding blood flow from his brain to his heart.

My team and I went on Red Alert.We discovered through an MRI that my posture was trapping blood in my brain, blocking it from flowing properly to my heart.Was I going to have a seizure? A stroke? I didn't know. pic.twitter.com/OcApHd2yeg
Bryan Johnson /dd (@bryan_johnson) October 10, 2024

"Our posture norms are pretty bad," he remarked, citing the common practice of slumping in chairs and looking down at screens. Such habits can lead to a cascade of health issues, including musculoskeletal pain, circulatory problems, digestive difficulties, and even mood changes.

Bryan Johnson’s Five Habits for Better Posture

Determined to tackle his posture problems, Johnson introduced five key habits that he claims have dramatically improved his condition. He added demo videos too explaining how to do them.

1. Imagine a string pulling your spine straight up through your head. This simple mental exercise can remind you to maintain an upright posture, Johnson says.

2. Johnson warns against the pitfalls of looking down at devices. He urged everyone to holding the phone at eye level to avoid bending the head down, which he describes as an immediate source of pressure building in the brain.

3. Every 30 minutes, Johnson stresses on the importance of moving. Whether it’s a brisk walk, climbing stairs, or even dancing, these breaks enhance blood flow and reset posture.

4. Johnson also advocates for targeted exercises to strengthen the muscles that support proper posture. He shares two technical exercises that require patience and practice, focusing on shoulder and neck strength.

5. Acknowledging that strengthening neglected muscles can lead to initial soreness, Johnson reassures that this discomfort is a sign of progress.

2. Avoid things that invite bad posture; the phone is the worst.
When I have my phone up, I hold it up.It's awkward and potentially embarrassing to be the person holding your phone up like this.When I bend my head down 60 degrees, I can feel the pressure building in my brain pic.twitter.com/R4XmndbyGX Bryan Johnson /dd (@bryan_johnson) October 10, 2024

Exercise 2:
With your hands on your forehead, resist the pressure of your hands pushing your head back.When doing this, be very patient.Watch this demo here: pic.twitter.com/NJ2mHdz74y Bryan Johnson /dd (@bryan_johnson) October 10, 2024

He said that his family members have adopted a playful “zzzzzip” sound to alert one another when someone is slouching, prompting an immediate correction.

Johnson, 47, also said that he had begun to lose hair and go grey in his late 20s, but now, he has a full head of hair, and 70 percent of his greys are gone.