Tech entrepreneurs, renowned for their hyper-competitive nature, are taking their rivalry to new heights. The Rejuvenation Olympics, an online leaderboard initiated by tech millionaire Bryan Johnson, has raised the bar for the wealthy elite. The objective? Slowing down the aging process.
Participants in the Rejuvenation Olympics don’t compete based on physical prowess; instead, they vie to slow their “biological age.” Essentially, it’s a race to see who can age the slowest. Participants achieve this through adjustments to their diets, exercise routines, and regular monitoring of their “age.” It’s important to note that they are not reversing their age but rather striving to age at a decelerated rate. As the Rejuvenation Olympics website humorously puts it, “You win by never crossing the finish line.”
Some notable individuals have joined this unusual competition. DJ and Benihana heir Steve Aoki, biohacker Ben Greenfield, and longevity science advocate Peter Diamandis are among the participants. However, most of the top contenders are not widely recognized, and some remain anonymous.
Currently, Bryan Johnson, a 46-year-old tech millionaire, leads the competition. Yet, this “chronological age” is just a number representing the years since his birth. According to a well-known “biological age” test, he is aging at a rate slower than his chronological age. Johnson’s extravagant lifestyle is entirely dedicated to the pursuit of not just appearing young but becoming younger, including consuming 70 pounds of vegetables monthly, receiving blood transfusions from his 17-year-old son, and using a red-light cap for hair growth.
The Rejuvenation Olympics primarily attract individuals obsessed with collecting and analyzing their personal health data, backed by the financial means to experiment with their lifestyles. Such endeavors are common among the ultra-rich, especially in Silicon Valley, where moonshot ideas are brought to life. Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, for instance, is known for his eccentric wellness habits, which include eating one meal a day, meditating for hours daily, and taking ice baths.
The pursuit of longevity has garnered significant attention and investment from the ultra-rich. Last year, over $5 billion flowed into longevity-related companies worldwide, with tech founders and investors contributing substantially. Companies aiming to extend life through organ regeneration and gene editing have attracted massive funding. Altos Labs, a life extension company researching biological reprogramming, launched with a $3 billion investment and reportedly has backing from internet billionaire Yuri Milner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. OpenAI founder Sam Altman invested $180 million in Retro Biosciences, which seeks to add a decade to human lifespans.
Living longer has become a fascination not limited to Silicon Valley; Hollywood celebrities like John Legend, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashton Kutcher have invested in biotech company Tally Health, co-founded by Harvard scientist David Sinclair, a prominent figure in the longevity community.
However, amidst the hype and capital infusion, skepticism abounds. While some genuine science backs life extension endeavors, many longevity startups make exaggerated claims about reversing aging entirely. Experts caution that aging cannot be reversed, and turning back the clock entirely remains a distant prospect.
Epigenetics, the study of gene expression influenced by environment and lifestyle, holds promise in understanding the aging process. Epigenetic “clocks” have been developed to estimate biological age based on gene expression, providing insights into how lifestyle habits impact aging. While epigenetic age testing offers a rough idea of one’s biological age and encourages healthy lifestyle changes, it does not guarantee longevity.
Despite the excitement surrounding longevity, some caution against falling for “snake oil” claims. Many in the longevity community get enticed by the latest supplements and studies, often with dubious results. While strides have been made in epigenetics, it does not yet provide insights into extending lifespan definitively.
In the pursuit of longevity, Bryan Johnson, the leader of the Rejuvenation Olympics, stands out for his meticulous lifestyle tracking. He adheres to a strict regimen, closely monitoring 78 organs in his body, including factors like BMI and brain white matter. Johnson’s unwavering dedication has earned him the reputation of the “most measured man in human history.”
Epigenetic age tests, such as those offered by TruDiagnostic, are a key component of the Rejuvenation Olympics. These tests provide information about biological age and how lifestyle choices impact the aging process. While Johnson is at the top of the leaderboard, competition participants believe the quest for eternal youth is an ongoing journey.
The allure of a prolonged life has led many with financial means to explore the boundaries of science and wellness. As they chase the dream of living longer, they’re transforming the landscape of the age-old quest for immortality, albeit with a modern twist.