The Pursuit of Eternal Youth: A New Frontier for Silicon Valley Millionaires
In the annals of history, powerful rulers and legendary figures have embarked on mythical quests for eternal youth. From the Holy Grail to the Fountain of Youth, these relics and tales have captured the imagination of generations. In the 21st century, Silicon Valley millionaires have traded castles, lands, subjects, and noble titles for millions of dollars, but they share the same belief in the attainability of eternal youth. Among these tech moguls, Bryan Johnson stands out as one of the most passionate advocates for life extension.
Bryan Johnson, a successful entrepreneur and founder of Braintree, has been receiving an experimental anti-aging treatment called Blueprint since 2020. This rigorous program involves undergoing a genetic treatment that has not been approved by US health authorities, prompting Johnson to seek it outside the country. In September 2021, Johnson announced on Instagram that he had received his first gene therapy: folistatina. He proudly declared himself a genetically enhanced human (GEH), but what he didn't mention was that this treatment is still in the experimental stage and lacks approval from US health authorities.
Folistatina, the New Elixir of Youth
Folistatina is a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating fat metabolism and muscle development. Recent studies on rats have shown that gene therapy with folistatina can help control obesity and promote muscle growth, making it a promising approach for treating muscle-wasting conditions and other diseases that affect muscle development.
However, the treatment is still in its early stages of development and has only been tested on rats, with a 30% success rate, according to Johnson's own admission. Despite this, the research has yet to receive the necessary approvals for human testing. To receive the treatment, Johnson had to travel to the Caribbean island of Roatán, off the coast of Mexico, to participate in a clinical trial.
According to Bloomberg, Johnson has become the guinea pig for a gene therapy clinical trial. The treatment is provided by Minicircle, a startup with investors such as Peter Thiel and Sam Altman, who have previously expressed concerns about living too long. The treatment is reported to cost $25,000 per session, but Johnson is said to be covering the cost himself, as Minicircle's co-founder, Mac Davis, told Bloomberg, "Johnson is a different kind of animal than the rest of us. He's doing something that we would do, but he's willing to pay for it."
Millions of Dollars Invested in Youth
Bryan Johnson is not a newcomer to the quest for eternal youth. In 2020, he launched a project called Blueprint, in which he invests $2 million annually to slow down his biological clock. After one year of this investment, Johnson admits to having a biological age of 37, the skin of a 28-year-old, and the lung capacity of an 18-year-old. His system consists of a strict diet, exercise, and rest regimen, combined with regular blood transfusions from his son and continuous monitoring by a team of 30 doctors.
Marc Davis, co-founder of Minicircle, the company investigating this anti-aging therapy, stated in 2020, "The keys to immortality: we have already discovered some of them. Our job is to test them and not be obstructed by regulatory constraints."
Immortality is no longer a myth or a legend; it is a goal that is within reach for those who have the means to invest in it. Bryan Johnson's story is just one example of how the pursuit of eternal youth has become a new frontier for Silicon Valley millionaires. While the scientific community continues to explore the possibilities of gene therapy and other anti-aging treatments, the quest for immortality raises ethical questions about the consequences of extending human life indefinitely. Only time will tell if these pioneering efforts will lead to a new paradigm in human health and longevity.