The immortality bros: The business of living forever
Dec 17, 2024
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Dive into the intriguing world of biohacking as tech entrepreneurs seek to reverse aging in a libertarian haven. Discover the extreme lengths some will go, like blood transfusions from younger donors, to achieve immortality. The risks of gene therapy in unregulated zones raise ethical questions about the future of biotechnology. With disillusionment in conventional science, innovators navigate the controversial landscape of self-experimentation, opening a dialogue on the moral implications of profit-driven health advancements.
Brian Johnson's radical anti-aging journey illustrates the rise of biohacking, merging self-experimentation with unregulated medical practices in pursuit of longevity.
The controversy surrounding Prospera highlights ethical concerns regarding the commercialization of experimental treatments, raising questions about safety, accountability, and informed consent.
Deep dives
The Quest for Anti-Aging
Brian Johnson, a 47-year-old entrepreneur, has committed to a radical anti-aging regimen that blurs the lines between science and self-experimentation. He aims to reverse his biological age, which he claims has reached 42.5 according to specific measurements, by investing $2 million annually in a variety of treatments and protocols. Among these is gene therapy at a clinic in Prospera, a deregulated zone in Honduras, where he views this groundbreaking experiment as a step towards defying death. His journey has made waves on social media, positioning him as a prominent figure among biohackers while challenging conventional boundaries of modern medicine and longevity research.
The Controversial Prospera Free Zone
Prospera, a unique free zone in Honduras, allows for less stringent regulations on medical practices, drawing both interest and skepticism from various corners. The area operates under its own laws, with an emphasis on attracting foreign investors and promoting innovative medical tourism. Within this context, companies like MiniCircle are pushing the boundaries of gene therapy, albeit often without the oversight typically mandated in more regulated environments. This has led to concerns about potential exploitation and safety, particularly as treatments are commercialized without the usual rigorous testing protocols.
The Implications of Biohacking
Biohacking, as championed by figures like Brian Johnson, has sparked a growing movement where individuals take health into their own hands through unconventional methods. This trend includes self-experimentation with unregulated treatments, which poses ethical dilemmas surrounding safety and informed consent. Those involved in biohacking frequently share their experiences publicly, adding an influencer dynamic to their practices and raising questions about the responsibility they bear towards their audiences. Critics argue that such practices could lead to irresponsible promotion of dubious medical interventions, with unverified claims affecting the wider population.
Safety Concerns and Scientific Scrutiny
The efficacy and safety of experimental treatments offered in places like Prospera come under intense scrutiny from the scientific community, with many experts highlighting a lack of robust data supporting these interventions. Critics assert that the preliminary studies conducted by companies like MiniCircle are flawed and potentially misleading, endangering participants who opt for these therapies. Concerns extend to the broader implications of tightly controlled gene therapies being marketed to the public, particularly when these treatments are yet to receive FDA approval. The anecdotal successes reported by biohackers and patients do not substitute for rigorous scientific validation, prompting calls for accountability and a more cautious approach to such emerging therapies.
The tech millionaire Bryan Johnson once went viral for infusing himself with a litre of his 17-year-old son’s blood plasma. That experiment failed, but it hasn’t distracted him from his life’s mission: reversing ageing.
Now, the self-declared professional guinea pig has travelled to a libertarian free zone on a remote Caribbean island, to receive experimental gene therapy administered by a company called Minicircle.
In the crypto city of Próspera, Roatán, the Honduran government grants Minicircle regulatory freedom for medical experiments that are banned by the FDA in the US.
This is the story of biohacking… on steroids. What happens when you build a privately run, for-profit nation state? And what happens when that state becomes a playground for experimental medicine?