After 60 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Johnson saw improvements in: 

  • Inflammation
  • Telomerase activity
  • Muscle oxygen utilization  
  • Gut health 
  • Brain Aging 
  • Skin Aging 

Bryan Johnson, a venture capitalist known for spending millions of dollars on reversing his age, has revealed the results of his hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on X. HBOT involves breathing in pure oxygen while in a pressurized chamber, resulting in higher-than-normal oxygen levels in the blood and tissues. The FDA has approved the use of HBOT for several conditions, including vision loss, hearing loss, and wound healing. However, its effects on aging need to be tested more, as it appears to be a promising anti-aging treatment. 

Oxygen Therapy Results 

Bryan Johnson calls himself the most measured man in the world because he measures all aspects of his health and physiology related to aging. Since he often measures his aging markers, he can change his protocol and determine if his measurements have improved. This is exactly what he did with HBOT. 

Using a hardshell chamber pressurized at 2 atmospheres and filled with 21% oxygen (normal levels), Johnson partook in 90-minute sessions, whereby he repeatedly breathed in 100% oxygen for 20 minutes with 5-minute breaks in between. He engaged in 60 sessions over 90 days. He explains in his X post that, “HBOT ranks as one of the highest value health therapies I’ve done.”

Inflammation

In revealing his HBOT results, Johnson said, “[I] wiped out all systematic inflammation in my body. Below detectable levels.” Chronic low-grade inflammation, referred to as “inflammaging,” is said to be an evolutionary conserved pillar of aging shared by multiple age-related diseases. To assess his body-wide inflammation, Johnson measured his high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, which were below detectable levels. He also measured CRP metabolite (CRPm), which was in the lowest 1%. 

Johnson’s C-reactive protein metabolite (CRPm) levels are within the lowest 1% of individuals who also had their CRPm levels measured.

Muscle Oxygen Utilization 

Since HBOT is known to improve vascularization, Johnson measured his levels of VEGF, a gene that drives the formation of new blood vessels. Remarkably, he found that his VEGF levels increased by 300% in response to HBOT. Moreover, because blood vessels deliver oxygen to our organs, including muscle, Johnson measured his muscle oxygen levels, which he found HBOT more than doubled. 

Johnson’s skeletal muscle oxygen levels (SmO2) more than doubled at 210 watts (W) of exercise power after 40 sessions of HBOT.

Telomeres 

The shortening of telomeres — the sequence nucleotides at the ends of our DNA — was one of the first markers of aging. With age, there is a decline in the enzyme that elongates our telomeres called telomerase. Due to telomere shortening, our otherwise normal cells can become senescent cells, which contributes to inflammaging. Johnson found that his telomerase activity is similar to that of a 12-year-old, indicating biological age reversal. However, he said, “The lab messed up the sample to measure telomere length so I’m getting retested. Will share results when available.”

Johnson’s telomerase activity is 7.7%, which is the telomerase activity of a 12-year-old.

Gut Microbiome 

Our gut microbiome is an important modulator of aging, producing molecules such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and n-butyrate that are beneficial to our health and longevity. Johnson found that his SCFAs increased by 250% and his n-butyrate levels increased by 290% in response to HBOT. He also mentions that a beneficial gut bacteria called Akkermansia muciniphila, linked to intestinal wall integrity and metabolic health, increased by 1000%. 

Before HBOT (left), Johnson’s blood SCFA concentration was 22.5 micromol/g and his blood n-butyrate concentration was 3.8 micromol/g. After HBOT (right), his SCFAs increased to 55.8 micromol/g and his n-butyrate levels increased to 11.1 micromol/g.

Brain Aging 

Alzheimer’s dementia is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder and a leading cause of death in the United States. In Alzheimer’s patients, a protein called tau builds up, contributing to brain inflammation, poor memory, slower processing speed, and impaired executive control. For this reason, tau levels in the brain are used as a marker for Alzheimer’s progression and brain aging. Johnson says that tau (phosphorylated TAU127) concentrations higher than 0.18 pg/mL are indicative of tau accumulation. He reveals that after HBOT, his tau levels went from 0.14 pg/mL to 0.1 pg/mL, a 28.6% reduction, suggesting brain aging reversal. 

Skin Aging 

Forty-seven-year-old Johnson reduced his skin age by one year, going from 39 to 38. This was based on multiple measurements of his skin, including different types of spots, wrinkles, texture, pores, red areas, and porphyrins — pigments that can trigger skin damage when too high. He notes other possible skin benefits, including increased collagen, increased blood vessels, and reduced senescent cells, which was shown in a previous HBOT clinical trial. 

Before HBOT (left), Johnson’s skin age was 39, but after HBOT (right), it was 38.

“The outcomes match what we observed in the scientific literature and what we predicted in deciding to do this therapy. What’s notable is that after achieving elite level biomarkers over the past four years, my team and I have struggled to find new therapies that meaningfully improve my biomarkers. HBOT achieved that,” said Johnson. 

Affording Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 

According to mdsave.com, the cost of one HBOT session ranges from $342 to $1,112 in the United States. This means that, if going for 60 sessions like Bryan Johnson, the price could range from $20,520 to $66,720. Considering that Johnson says he bought his chamber for $100,000; it may be better to invest in one’s own chamber. However, spending anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 on HBOT is unaffordable for most non-millionaires. 

Nevertheless, it is possible that if demand for HBOT increases, the prices will go down. Johnson has announced that Don’t Die Certified clinics will be opening soon.

“Soon, you will be able to find clinics and health practitioners that are Don’t Die Certified, meaning they follow the same scientific rigor and measurement as my protocol. We have our first few clinics ready to go and will be launching soon. Stay tuned,” said Johnson. 

It does not seem that Johnson’s clinics will be more affordable than existing clinics, though they might be. 

An Alternative Anti-Aging Treatment: Breathing Slowly 

A free alternative to HBOT could be breathing in ways that activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers biological drivers of aging such as inflammation and oxidative stress. The parasympathetic nervous system is the part of the autonomic (unconscious) nervous system that modulates the immune system and chronic inflammatory diseases. When activated, the vagus nerve, which connects to our organs, releases an anti-inflammatory cascade. In their discussion on breathing practices for mental health and aging, Gerbarg and Brown (2016) say,

“For most adults, breathing at 4.5-6 breathes per minute optimizes sympatho-vagal balance and induces a mental state of calm alertness, which is ideal for relaxation as well as for cognitive function, problem-solving, and stress resiliency; breathing at 3 breathes per minute or less is more sedating and meditative.”