Bryan Johnson Discusses Autoimmune Disease and Longevity Efforts

<p><em>LOS ANGELES —</em> Bryan Johnson, a prominent figure in the longevity movement, recently revealed that he has been diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease. In an interview with "The Axios Show" on Monday, he noted that some critics reacted positively to his diagnosis.</p><ul><li>"I mean, I think people really want me to die. Now I get it. It's funny. It's ironic. I push a lot of buttons that people don't like," Johnson stated.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture</strong>: Johnson acknowledged the irony of his situation, as he is the founder of the "Don't Die" movement. He views his diagnosis not as a setback, but as motivation to further his mission of promoting longevity.</p><hr /><p><strong>Catch up quick: </strong>Johnson, 49, has autoimmune gastritis (AIG), a chronic condition where the immune system attacks healthy stomach lining cells.</p><ul><li>He mentioned that there was widespread joy following his announcement of the diagnosis in July.</li><li>Johnson invests millions annually in health interventions and shares his experiences with an online audience of approximately 8 million across various platforms, including YouTube.</li><li>When asked if his health interventions contributed to his AIG diagnosis, he responded: "No. I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was 21 years old. The thyroid and the stomach are very closely linked in immunology. I probably have had this thing for about 30 years." </li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue</strong>: Johnson perceives his diagnosis, which could be seen as undermining his anti-aging campaign, as another test of his efforts.</p><ul><li>He believes that his attempts to manage the disease can help validate his ambitions.</li><li>"I like the challenge. I'm up for it. I think it's good timing. I'm going to get diagnosed with something at some point. Why not this?" he said.</li></ul><p><strong>Friction point: </strong>Johnson, who describes himself as the "most measured person in the world," spends over $2 million annually on health and longevity treatments, employing a medical concierge team and maintaining a makeshift doctor's office at home.</p><ul><li>Experts indicate that the cause of AIG is unknown, and Johnson's proposed methods to reverse it are experimental.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Johnson gained wealth by founding Braintree, which acquired Venmo and was sold to PayPal for $800 million.</p><ul><li>He currently operates longevity businesses such as Blueprint and Immortals, along with neurotechnology company Kernel and venture fund OS Fund.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> A common criticism of extensive health tracking is that it may reveal more abnormalities, not all of which are significant.</p><ul><li>Doctors caution that false positives and incidental findings can lead to a "cascade" of follow-up tests and treatments, which may incur additional costs, stress, and potential harm.</li></ul><p><strong>Johnson is a full-throated fan</strong>: "I personally appreciate information. I want to know because when you find things early, you're much more likely to be able to address them." </p><ul><li>He also mentioned that his health process does not feel addictive to him, stating that "the biggest addiction in the world is to make money." </li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>Johnson views the impact on his public health record as another potential milestone in his pursuit of longevity.</p>