Billionaire tech entrepreneur and self-proclaimed biohacker Bryan Johnson has long captured global attention for his unconventional and highly publicised quest to reverse the ageing process. With an annual personal health budget reportedly reaching $2 million, Johnson has undertaken a sweeping regimen of high-tech interventions in an effort to decelerate or even halt biological ageing. From full-body plasma exchanges to transfusions using his teenage son’s blood, the 46-year-old has made headlines as the public face of the “immortality movement”.
However, in a candid admission shared via a new video on his YouTube channel, Johnson acknowledged that a critical component of his programme—rapamycin—may have caused him more harm than good.
Rapamycin, an immunosuppressant originally designed for organ transplant recipients, has become popular in anti-ageing circles due to its potential to extend life by targeting the mTOR pathway, a mechanism linked to cellular growth and metabolism. Johnson was first inspired by a 2009 study in which rapamycin was shown to increase the lifespan of mice by up to 14%, as well as by a 2023 human trial in which 65% of participants reported improved health outcomes while on the drug.
Over the past five years, Johnson carefully adjusted his rapamycin dosage in an attempt to optimise its anti-ageing potential while managing risk. However, instead of the rejuvenation he had hoped for, Johnson began suffering a range of worrying side effects.
Among them were mouth ulcers, wounds that healed unusually slowly, elevated cholesterol levels, and spikes in blood glucose. Most troubling for Johnson, however, was a sustained increase in his resting heart rate—a biometric he regards as a core measure of recovery and sleep quality. The physiological changes prompted him to reassess the role of rapamycin in his health protocol.
Johnson’s concerns were compounded by a recent study from Yale University, which challenged the mainstream narrative surrounding rapamycin’s purported benefits. The study revealed that the drug may in fact accelerate biological ageing. Researchers reported 16 negative effects on epigenetic markers—biological indicators of ageing—raising serious questions about the long-term viability of the drug as an anti-ageing solution.
For Johnson, this revelation was a significant blow. A central piece of his meticulously engineered anti-ageing strategy may have actively undermined his goals. Speaking in his video, he remarked on the irony: “To those of you laughing at home, I’m laughing with you,” he said, showing no sign of embarrassment despite the setback.
While he confirmed that he had stopped taking rapamycin, Johnson made it clear this was not a surrender, but a recalibration. “This is not the end—this is a reset,” he stated. “It’s important to talk about both the successes and the failures. That’s how we all learn.”
Johnson’s willingness to publicly disclose the failure drew a mixture of praise and reflection from viewers. One commenter wrote, “The key is to share things whether they work or they don't work, so that we all learn. It's shocking to me how many people don't understand the value of sharing negative results.” Another said, “This is one of your best vids by far. Adequate scientific explanation, owning up to the mistake.”
A third added, “Thanks for your transparency!!! No clickbait. Thanks! And, good luck going forward!”
Others acknowledged the pioneering, if contentious, nature of his journey: “Tip of the spear. Not sure I agree with all things Bryan Johnson, but I applaud his undertaking this journey and, most importantly, sharing it with the world.”
This is not the first time Johnson’s efforts have drawn criticism. Indian hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips previously accused Johnson of promoting “snake oil” by endorsing a range of supplements under his “Blueprint” protocol without providing scientific validation.
Philips publicly challenged Johnson to produce clinical data substantiating the claims behind his supplement formulations. Johnson, however, responded only with general statements about ingredient quality, declining to present any specific clinical evidence.
Johnson also recently stirred debate by drawing a connection between the United States’ obesity crisis and air pollution levels in India—a claim that was widely criticised online.
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