Bryan Johnson, the American entrepreneur who has become one of the most recognizable faces in biohacking, has revealed that he suffers from autoimmune gastritis. At 48, the man known for his extreme protocol designed to slow aging says he has a chronic illness in which the immune system attacks the lining of the stomach. "My stomach is eating itself."
A disease discovered after years of warnings
The diagnosis was made in May, after more than a decade of low ferritin levels, without any established anemia. Bryan Johnson explains that he had tried for years to correct his iron levels through diet and supplements, without success. Further tests were then ordered: colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, specialized blood tests, and stomach biopsies. The tests revealed elevated parietal cell antibodies and lesions consistent with early-stage autoimmune gastritis. The colonoscopy did not reveal any significant abnormalities, but the gastric biopsies confirmed the source of the problem.
His body attacks the cells in his stomach
In autoimmune gastritis, the immune system attacks the parietal cells of the stomach. These cells play a central role in the production of gastric acid and intrinsic factor, which is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12. When they are destroyed, the body absorbs certain nutrients less effectively, particularly iron and vitamin B12. This disease can remain asymptomatic for a long time. It can cause iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, anemia, fatigue, digestive problems, and requires monitoring due to an increased risk of certain gastric complications, including stomach cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.
No recognized curative treatment
At this stage, there is no cure for autoimmune gastritis. Management focuses primarily on correcting deficiencies, monitoring the evolution of the gastric mucosa, and limiting complications. Bryan Johnson has already received a 1,000 mg iron infusion after conventional oral iron supplements failed. Vitamin B12 may also become necessary, either as a supplement or via injections, if natural absorption is no longer sufficient. The disease also requires medical monitoring, including blood tests and, in some cases, follow-up endoscopies.
Bryan Johnson wants to document his fight
Bryan Johnson says he wants to make the monitoring of this disease public and explore ways to better control it. He mentions experimental approaches, including strategies targeting the immune cells responsible for the attack on the stomach, but these options do not currently constitute a validated standard treatment. Immortality will have to wait…
