Everyone in this world is connected by not wanting to live another day. That is the sentiment Bryan Johnson and his community, “Don’t Die,” hold. Bryan Johnson has dedicated his life to extending his life through scientific research, primarily on his own body. While some see this as a selfish endeavor, he has consistently shared his data with his followers and developed multiple programs to support people on his mission.
Online, he has released the “Blueprint,” a protocol designed to help people live longer. In the “Blueprint,” it outlines everything to live longer and Johnson’s exact routine. Time, food, and sleep are all accounted for, allowing people to live the most optimized life possible. There is even a social media app called “Don’t Die” where people post about how successfully they are living an optimized life. But how accurate is the science?
All the data is based on its impact on one’s rate of aging. This is done by DunedinPACE, which looks at methylation patterns(molecules attached to your DNA) to determine the change in your biological age. DunedinPACE has been verified by many tests as reliable and retestable. Johnson relies on this age rate to test everything and publicizes his own age rate on his website. Not only that, Johnson founded the “Rejuvenation Olympics,” where people can publish their age rate and compare it with others, with Johnson at the top of the leaderboard with an age rate of 0.5.
If the data is accurate, is the advice and “Blueprint” accurate medically? Johnson does provide clear and objective information such as the importance of sleeping for 8 hours, avoiding processed foods, and exercising. However, other types of therapies and steps he participates in are more controversial, like red light therapy. Red light therapy has recently exploded, and some would argue for good reason. It has been proven to help skin healing and health. It has been and is being used to treat skin diseases such as cancer. Red light therapy promotes collagen production, which aids in your skin’s structure and flexibility. However, as Stanford Medicine states, while red light therapy has been proven to benefit the skin, its other purported benefits, such as slowing the aging process, are questionable.
Johnson also pushes for an intermittent fasting and restrictive eating diet, meaning eating all your meals in the morning and fasting for the rest of the day. Interestingly, this eating structure has been linked to lower glucose spikes, leading to lower inflammation, lower blood pressure, and lower risk of cardiac disease. However not everyone is recommended this diet because it may cause nausea, headaches, and mood swings, which have been cited in other sources.
Johnson does state in his “Blueprint” that he is experimenting with some things and that not everything will work for everyone. For example, he recommends that people eat what their body supports, rather than what he lists, because everyone is different. But why does Johnson do this?
Johnson believes that we are in a world where we value death. Everything is here to try to kill us–food, social media, and long hours at work. He believes it’s his duty to fight against this culture and change humanity’s goal to stopping death. Especially now, with the involvement of AI and other nanotechnology, he believes the chances of conquering death are more possible than ever. Some disagree with him, stating that death is an essential part of life, and Johnson’s way of life is limiting him and stopping him from truly enjoying life. However, Johnson trudges ahead, the creator of the “No Die” campaign and the most studied human ever, who hopes will live on forever.
