No, You Can’t Reverse Aging by Injecting ‘Young Blood

Like many celebrities and entrepreneurs, 45-year-old U.S. tech billionaire Bryan Johnson is trying to reverse the aging process.

Spending an average of $2 million a year on an anti-aging regimen, Johnson claims he now ages slower than some children. He explains: “The pace my body accumulates aging damage is less than the average 10-year-old.”

Many of Johnson’s age-reversal methods are questionable, involve dodgy science, and have known side effects.

While you can’t stop the aging process or the gradual decline our bodies experience therein, there are some things we can all do—for free—to maintain our health as we age.

What Does Johnson Do? And Is It Scientific?

Fasting

Johnson reports fasting for 23 hours a day. He then eats one meal a day: 2,250 calories of nutrient-dense food “customized” to his body’s needs.

Eating for time-restricted periods in the day can have a positive effect on how we metabolize nutrients, inflammation levels, hormonal regulation, and cardiometabolic health (blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference).

However, a Spartan-like food intake can impair how our body responds to sugar (known as glucose tolerance). And it’s not necessarily any more effective for weight maintenance than reducing calorie intake at each meal.

Large-scale, long-term human trials are needed to confirm the limited risk-benefit findings of fasting.

Acid Peels

Johnson has weekly acid peels (which use a mild acid to exfoliate the skin) to maintain a “youthful glow.”

But you cannot smooth sagging facial skin or remove deep scars or wrinkles. Acid peels also come with risks, including organ damage, infection, scarring, and swelling.

Plasma Infusions

Perhaps the most bizarre youth-inducing procedure Johnson has attempted is receiving blood transfusions from his 17-year-old son.

U.S. biotech companies have explored plasma infusions to tackle age-related diseases in humans for decades. But there are no proven clinical benefits.

Side effects from blood transfusions include blood-borne infections, fever, and allergic reactions.

Historical Attempts to Stay Youthful

Humans have been experimenting with anti-aging methods for centuries. These have included all sorts of behavioral and lifestyle practices that are quirky, questionable, and even sadistic.

Ancient practices included crocodile dung face masks, which the Greeks and Romans used to brighten their complexions.

Romans also used donkey milk and swan fat to minimize wrinkles, due to their acclaimed rejuvenating properties.

Cleopatra apparently took daily baths in sour donkey milk. To sustain this lavish habit, she had a herd of 700 donkeys. Sour milk contains lactic acid, a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that exists in many modern-day exfoliants. So this idea was grounded in basic science, at least.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, “Countess Dracula,” aka Elizabeth Báthory, allegedly resorted to serial killing to quench her thirst for youthfulness, bathing in the blood of her young victim

The Quest Continues With Cryotherapy

Fountain of Youth fixations have inspired many contemporary anti-aging trends. Exposure to cold is a firm favorite.

Some research suggests this could have benefits relating to longevity by slowing cellular degeneration, stimulating collagen and elastin production, increasing metabolism, and reducing inflammation.

Dutch motivational speaker Wim Hof includes cold water immersion as one of the three pillars of his Wim Hof Method to “increase mind-body connection.”

Athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo use cryotherapy, exposing their bodies to extremely cold temperatures for two to four minutes to decrease the signs of aging and enhance their general health.

However, the risks of cryotherapy include bone fractures, frostbite, nerve damage, bleeding, cramping, swelling, and skin infections.

So What Can We Do to Age Well?

Two of the more mainstream anti-aging methods Johnson recommends are the daily self-care habits of sleep and exercise.

He has a strict sleep schedule that involves retiring to bed at 8 p.m., with a one-hour wind-down in a darkened room.

Adults report poorer sleep quality and difficulty being able to sleep for long enough as they age. Sleeping too much or too little is associated with a greater risk of obesity, heart disease, and premature death.

Developing a regular sleep routine, reducing bedroom distractions such as mobile phones, and exercising regularly can all help to alleviate sleep problems.

Exercise, often cited as a wonder drug for healthy aging, is something Johnson takes very seriously. He does a “Blueprint” workout that includes specially designed daily techniques, as well as high-intensity interval training sessions, hiking, and playing sports.

From middle age onward, we all need to exercise regularly to increase our muscle mass, bone density, strength, endurance, coordination, and balance. One of the greatest health risks for older people is falling, which balance, flexibility, endurance, and strength training can help reduce. Physical activity can bring older adults social benefits if undertaken in groups, and there are well-known mental health gains.

Small changes in sleep, diet (eating plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, healthy fats, and enough protein), and exercise can support healthy aging, reducing the chance of early death, and helping us all to lead an active and independent life in our senior years. Now that is something worth investing in.

About the Author: Rachael Jefferson-Buchanan, lecturer in Human Movement Studies (Health and PE) and Creative Arts, Charles Sturt University

This article is republished from The Conversation. Read the original article.