LOS ANGELES — Tech entrepreneur and biohacker Bryan Johnson, whose highly publicized longevity regimen has made him one of the world's best-known advocates of anti-aging science, said he has been diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis, a chronic autoimmune disease for which there is no established cure.
Johnson disclosed the diagnosis this week in posts on social media, saying his immune system is attacking the lining of his stomach and describing the condition as causing his "stomach is eating itself." He said the diagnosis followed extensive medical investigations, including blood tests, endoscopy and stomach biopsies conducted after years of unexplained low iron levels and other health concerns.
Autoimmune gastritis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the body's immune system damages acid-producing cells in the stomach. Medical experts say the condition can impair the absorption of iron and vitamin B12, potentially leading to anemia and neurological complications, while also increasing the long-term risk of stomach cancer. Current treatment focuses on managing nutritional deficiencies and monitoring patients because no therapy has been shown to cure the underlying autoimmune process.
Johnson, 48, said he intends to devote resources to studying the disease using advanced laboratory techniques, including immune-cell sequencing, and plans to make his findings publicly available. He said he hopes the work could contribute to better understanding and treatment of autoimmune disorders, although he did not claim a cure is imminent.
The entrepreneur has attracted international attention for spending millions of dollars annually on medical testing, nutrition, exercise and experimental longevity interventions aimed at slowing biological aging. His health program has been featured in documentaries and has made him a prominent figure in the biohacking movement.
Medical specialists cautioned that while autoimmune gastritis can often be managed, there is currently no evidence-based protocol capable of reversing the disease. Researchers say diagnosis is frequently delayed because symptoms may be subtle or nonspecific, and treatment typically involves vitamin B12 replacement, iron supplementation where necessary and ongoing surveillance for complications.
Johnson said he will continue monitoring biomarkers associated with the condition while pursuing research into its underlying mechanisms. As of Friday, no peer-reviewed results from his proposed research initiative had been released, and his diagnosis does not alter the current medical consensus that autoimmune gastritis remains a chronic condition managed through long-term clinical care.
