Tech entrepreneur and renowned biohacker Bryan Johnson has revealed that he has been diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis (AIG), a rare chronic condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the stomach.
Johnson, who reportedly spends more than $1 million annually on an intensive longevity programme designed to slow ageing, announced the diagnosis in a post on social media, describing the condition bluntly: “My stomach is eating itself.”
The 48-year-old said the disease was discovered in May after doctors carried out extensive investigations to determine the cause of persistently low ferritin levels, an iron-storage protein that had remained unusually low for more than a decade.
According to Johnson, further medical tests revealed elevated anti-parietal cell antibodies, while a stomach biopsy confirmed the early stages of autoimmune gastritis.
Although he has lived with unexplained low ferritin levels for years, he said he never developed anaemia, making the condition difficult to identify earlier.
Johnson also disclosed that he was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the age of 21 and has managed the condition for nearly three decades. Autoimmune gastritis is known to occur more frequently in people with other autoimmune disorders, including thyroid diseases.
The entrepreneur believes the illness may have been silently progressing for years because its symptoms—including abdominal pain, nausea, reduced appetite, iron deficiency and unexplained weight loss—can easily be mistaken for other medical conditions.
Despite the diagnosis, Johnson said he is unwilling to accept the current limitations of conventional treatment.
“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 said.
He explained that his medical team will continue monitoring his iron levels and other biological markers while exploring emerging scientific approaches that could improve treatment options.
“There is no approved cure for autoimmune gastritis today,” he added.
Johnson expressed optimism that advances in artificial intelligence, genomics and biotechnology could eventually transform the management of diseases currently regarded as incurable.
“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.
Johnson gained global attention through his ambitious anti-ageing programme, which combines strict nutrition, intensive exercise, advanced medical testing and experimental health interventions aimed at extending human lifespan.
His journey was also featured in the Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever documentary, which chronicles his efforts to slow ageing and push the boundaries of human longevity.
Reaffirming his long-term ambition, Johnson said his mission remains unchanged despite the diagnosis.
“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.”….See More
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