Fireside Chat With Bryan Johnson On His Age Reversal At The DeSci & Longevity Biotech 2023 Summit In Próspera
Fireside Chat With Bryan Johnson On His Age Reversal At The DeSci & Longevity Biotech 2023 Summit In Próspera
It's not only about defying age but redefining the possibilities of a healthier, more enlightened existence.
Have you ever wondered about reversing the aging process? From Bryan’s father's experience: Picture a 70-year-old lawyer experiencing a cognitive awakening, resulting in a 25-year reversion after a plasma infusion.
Bryan Johnson shared with us a journey on challenging societal norms at the DeSci & Longevity Biotech 2023 Summit, sparking a conversation with the founders of Minicircle on gene therapy's potential to defy aging.
Unveiling the challenges in pursuing longevity, exploring social and psychological barriers, and the sacrifices required to reverse the aging process.
Unveiling Age-Reversing Potential
About a year ago, Bryan started doing plasma transfusions, and some months ago, he did a final one from his son, who was 17 years old at the time. They considered it ineffective because they couldn't detect any changes in Bryan from his transfusions.
Then, for Bryan’s father, they made a change where he took out 600 milliliters of his plasma and infused one liter of Brian's plasma. His pace of aging slowed from a mean of 1.01 to point 84. Doing a calculation with TruDiagnostic’s new clock, they approximated roughly a 25-year age reversion drop.
Bryan finds his father to be the most compelling example of the transformative power of cognitive enhancements. At 70 years old, his dad, a lawyer, experienced a moment of revelation when he realized his cognitive decline. He had written a brief, and when he returned to it, he was shocked to find his thoughts jumbled and the content in disarray upon review. This marked the first awareness of his declining cognitive abilities. Following the transfusion, he claims to have regained his mental clarity after undergoing the plasma infusion and following the Blueprint exercises.
Social and Psychological Barriers to "Don't Die"
Exploring the two-year topic, they have identified notable psychological barriers to this longevity journey.
Many of them are from the web3 or finance sections, and they’re motivated by societal pursuits centered around accumulating wealth, power, and status.
It is hard to let go of this idea of a growing culture where you try to rank higher among your peers to achieve a higher status in society and prioritize “don’t die” over that.
The challenge arises when attempting to break away from these established norms, as deviating behaviors, such as adopting an early bedtime or abstaining from alcohol, can result in social ostracization. This also extends to personal relationships, where partners may not share the same perspective.
Many individuals view the pursuit of immortality as conflicting with the prevailing societal game, necessitating a fundamental redefinition of one's identity.
This collective introspection prompts us to question how reconsidering the inevitability of death challenges the foundational norms of society, echoing themes found in religious narratives about the fleeting nature of wealth.
Firing Evening Bryan: Reshaping Legacy and Health through a Democratic Mindset
"Firing ‘Evening Bryan’" refers to a transformative moment in Bryan's life. Battling chronic depression and struggling to balance work and family, he found solace in consuming large quantities of sweet treats every evening. Realizing the negative impact of this habit, he metaphorically "fired" his evening alter ego, symbolizing a conscious decision to break free from destructive routines, and this pivotal moment marked the beginning of his journey to overhaul his lifestyle, incorporating healthier habits such as early dinners, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep, ultimately leading to positive changes in his physical and mental well-being.
Struggling with losing trust in his mind's ability to support his body's needs, Bryan draws an analogy to a historical moment in the early American colonies – he identifies with past revolutionaries, likening his need for a personal revolution to the American colonies' quest for independence from British rule.
Bryan likens his mind to a tyrant doing whatever he wants. Like the 13 colonies, he realizes there might be a better system. Imagine his mind as the old monarchy, and he's considering replacing it with a more democratic approach, especially regarding his health.
He compares this shift to asking his body's organs, like his heart, liver, and lungs, how they're doing and what they need to be their best. Bryan believes this change is good for him and mirrors how democracy, with better information flow and quicker decisions, triumphed over the old ways in society.
So, "Firing ‘Evening Bryan’" is essentially about Bryan firing his mental monarch for a more intelligent system, just like the 13 colonies did. He wants a smarter system that helps him achieve the best possible health. It's a journey of evolving towards a better and more aware way of living.
Fame Before Gene Therapy – Navigating the Path to Self-Improvement Through Daily Decisions
In Blueprint's comprehensive approach, incorporating elements such as nutrition, exercise, VO2 maxing, and strength development, Bryan reflects on the pivotal factors in his lifestyle development that contributed to his newfound fame before integrating gene therapy.
He emphasizes the significant transformation achieved by modulating emotions and conscientiously evaluating daily decisions. He would keep a scorecard on how many bad decisions he would make daily and which ones he really did not want to make — tracking choices like overeating, consuming junk food, excessive smoking, and drinking.
“Currently, I do zero. And that's the first time in my entire life that I've ever been able actually to be my best self.” – Bryan Johnson
Bryan underscores the core transformation in his life, marked by the absence of regrettable daily choices—an achievement he credits to achieving emotional stability and nurturing a strong nervous system.
The shift towards prioritizing fundamental practices, such as regular sleep and exercise, forms the foundation for embracing more advanced therapies.
He is one of a profound metamorphosis, emphasizing the importance of emotional well-being and discipline in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Responding to a query on overcoming bad habits, it’s about quelling the mind and resisting impulses. Drawing on personal experience, he discusses a gradual process of learning restraint and realizing that succumbing to vices brings more pain than pleasure.
Mistakes are inevitable, but it’s important to highlight the transformative power of learning from them. Picture in your mind the transformative impact of perseverance and self-awareness on the path to lasting change by being aware of your daily habits – Doing less of the bad and more of the good, one day at a time.
Testing "Safe" Gene Therapy: A Rigorous Vetting Process
Bryan was part of a student group inspired by Aubrey De Grey, where they explored his concept of 500 ways age damage manifests in the body.
This inspired his team to go out and investigate how they could slow the speed of aging and reverse aging damage. This resulted in a list with a hundred things to try, with gene therapy prominently featured at the very top of the list.
Over a span of two years, they researched gene therapies as a means of reversing age damage.
Their investigations focused on Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) directed gene therapy. They conducted many tests using AAVs that revealed safety concerns as they didn’t have an off switch.
This realization led them to seek out an alternative method for gene therapy: plasma.
Gene therapy using plasma was number seven on their list, but one of the most promising therapies, and it has an off switch. After a thorough analysis and review through the FDA and other companies, they were convinced and comfortable with the safety profile in the full step.
“And so for us it was, it was really exciting to move beyond the basics of diet, health, sleep, exercise.” – Bryan Johnson
Bryan Johnson's journey towards age reversal, shared at the Desci & Longevity Biotech 2023 Summit, reveals a compelling narrative. From pioneering gene therapies to challenging societal norms, his experiences encapsulate a profound shift in mindset and behavior.
It's an interesting navigation through the barriers to longevity and seeing the importance of emotional well-being and discipline in shaping a healthy lifestyle.
Bryan's story becomes a testament to the transformative power of perseverance, self-awareness, and the relentless pursuit of a healthier, more enlightened existence. This narrative reshapes personal legacies and contributes to the broader human story.
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