Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur and biohacker who has spent millions of dollars in pursuit of immortality, has been diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune condition that attacks the stomach lining. The 48-year-old revealed in a social media post that he has autoimmune gastritis (AIG), a disease that can lead to nutrient deficiencies, anaemia, and an elevated risk of stomach cancer. “My stomach is eating itself,” Johnson said, describing the condition.
Johnson, who reportedly spends more than $1 million annually on his longevity programme, disclosed that the diagnosis was confirmed after a series of medical tests. He discovered the condition in May while investigating the cause of persistently low ferritin levels—a protein essential for storing iron. “I’m unsure how long I’ve had it,” he added, noting that he had experienced unexplained low ferritin levels for over a decade without developing anaemia.
Diagnosis and Medical History
Further testing revealed elevated anti-parietal cell antibodies, and a stomach biopsy confirmed the early stages of autoimmune gastritis. Johnson had previously been diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 21 and has managed that condition for nearly 30 years. Autoimmune gastritis is known to occur more frequently in individuals with other autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease.
Johnson believes the condition may have been developing for years but went undetected because its symptoms—such as abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, iron deficiency, and unexplained weight loss—can be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses.
Challenging Conventional Treatment
Despite the diagnosis, Johnson said he intends to challenge standard medical approaches. “When AIG is discovered today, standard medical care concedes defeat, stating that nothing can be done except managing the condition, no matter how awful or lethal the effects,” he wrote. He plans to have his medical team closely monitor his iron levels and other biological markers while conducting further research into the disease. “There’s no approved cure for autoimmune gastritis today,” he acknowledged.
Johnson expressed hope that advances in artificial intelligence, genomics, and biotechnology could eventually yield new treatment options. “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,” he said.
Background and Public Profile
The Silicon Valley entrepreneur rose to global prominence through his ambitious anti-ageing programme, which includes an intensive diet, exercise regimen, and frequent medical testing aimed at slowing the ageing process. He was featured in the Netflix documentary Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, which chronicled his pursuit of extending human lifespan.
Reaffirming his long-term goal, Johnson wrote in a separate post: “I don’t intend to live a little. I intend to live more than any human who has yet lived and invite you to join.”
