Life expectancy has gotten much higher over the last several decades. In certain locations known as Blue Zones located in parts of the world, including Greece and Japan, there are centenarians who garden, cook, sing, laugh, and play. Their weathered skin and slow gaits don’t stop them from living life to the fullest.
Many people in the U.S. want to live that long, without the weathered skin and slow gaits, if they can do anything to stop those things. In fact, in the U.S., the rich are spending whatever it takes to add more quality years to their life. And, in some cases, it’s working. One Harvard study found that the richest Americans get to live over a decade longer than others. Another recent study, that I will describe later, shows that the wealthiest Americans can and do spend more money on longevity practices, although some are potentially unsafe and experimental.
A Wealthy Entrepreneur Goes to Extremes to Maintain his Youth
An extreme example is Bryan Johnson, a wealthy entrepreneur “who is 48 going on 18.” Johnson is intent on being biologically young again. So much so that he is on the path to spending over $2 million this year alone on medical interventions and tests aimed at helping him be younger. Johnson sees a team of 30 doctors for regular, and sometimes invasive, tests for what they have named Project Blueprint, according to Bloomberg.
Johnson made headlines for over-the-top practices like swapping blood with his 17-year-old son, yet doctors ultimately reported seeing “no benefits” to the practice. Johnson also claims that he pops 100+ supplements per day and from that, he has claimed to have achieved pretty impressive results.
Johnson’s “regenerative medicine physician,” Oliver Zolman is dedicated “to help reverse the aging process in every one of Johnson’s organs” and charges up to $1,000 an hour for patients interested in the vast testing that Johnson participates in, Bloomberg reports. While the data is preliminary, Johnson has the heart of a 37-year-old, the skin of a 28-year-old, and the lung capacity of an 18-year-old, according to tests his doctors performed.
Since beginning to see results, he’s continued the project, despite criticism that it’s all a step too far in a way that it impedes on the natural progression of life.
Other Wealthy Americans Are Taking Actions to Stay Young
According to the “Annual Longevity Investment Report,” from the organization called “Longevity.Technology,” 41% of higher-income Americans (with household incomes over 250K) are willing to spend both time and money to ensure that they can live as long as possible. The majority of the over 3,000 Americans surveyed said they spend time ensuring they get optimal sleep during the week, plan healthy meals, and take supplements and vitamins. Forty-six percent of higher-income Americans say they will use the majority of discretionary income on improving health and longevity compared to 34% of lower-income Americans, with over half of higher-income Americans willing to participate in clinical trials aimed at extending life span.
Forty-one percent of higher-income Americans say they would download their brain onto a computer to live forever compared to 19% of lower-income Americans, according to the study. In the same vein, 40% of higher-income Americans would conduct gene editing on their future children compared to 20% of lower-income Americans. And nearly half (42%) of higher-income Americans would take potentially risky medications for chronic health problems over 19% of lower-income Americans.
Despite studies that show there are research-backed and accessible tactics, such as engaging with others, walking, eating nutritious foods, and finding purpose that may extend both health and lifespans, this is what some of the ultra-wealthy are doing to stay young:
- Some are going to biohacking clubs in pursuit of life extension. New biohacking gyms are popping up around the world.
- Wealthy and well-connected are booking cryotherapy sessions and vampire facials . Elite clinics worldwide cater to the rich and famous who want to optimize their health and reverse aging through advanced — albeit not always proven — biohacking techniques such as these.
- Silicon Valley execs are praising intermittent fasting and fringe anti-aging technology.
- Toronto’s Longevity House gives access to anti-aging diagnostics and therapies typically reserved for pro athletes for a $100,000 one-time fee. The club offers a variety of services ranging from simple breath training to AI-driven cardio and oxygen variability training.
- Elon Musk’s Neuralink has obtained approval to begin tests of chip implants into the human brain.
- Sandra Bullock uses newborn babies’ foreskin to rejuvenate her face; Gwyneth Paltrow revealed that she had gotten bees to sting her, to supposedly get rid of inflammation and scarring; and Jennifer Aniston keeps her skin firm with a microcurrent device.
These techniques are not risk-free. Long fasts, for instance, can cause hypoglycemia and increase the risk of damage to the kidneys. Biohacking sessions must be carefully supervised to avoid complications like heart failure. Also, the ingestion of a large number of supplements may lead to unexpected results as each one affects different parts of the human metabolism and some of them may have adverse interactions with each other, and or with prescription medications that the person may be taking.
“It is important to approach the longevity movement with a critical mindset and recognize that the pursuit of longevity should not come at the cost of quality of life,” Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, an internal medicine physician and founder of End Well, a non-profit focused on end-of-life care. “The pursuit of immortality can lead to a focus on quantity over quality of life and can detract from the meaningful experiences and relationships that make life worth living.”
What Can Everyone Else Do to Stay Young?
85 years ago, researchers at Harvard University started the Study of Adult Development to identify which lifestyle choices to help people live longer, happier lives. These are all simple things and they all still hold true today:
- Not smoking
- Avoiding alcohol abuse
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Exercising daily
- Adopting an adaptive coping style: “This means that you have good conflict-resolution practices,” the Harvard study explained.
- Fostering a growth mindset: “Invest in education or the practices of lifelong learning,” the study added.
- Maintaining stable, long-term friendships and loving relationships
I hope all of our readers live long, happy, healthy lives! For more longevity tips, please click here to read my many articles on the subject.
Do You Want to Live to 100 Or More?
As you are doing what you can to maximize your longevity, it is also a good idea to plan for your future and for your loved ones. Our firm is dedicated to helping protect seniors by preserving dignity, quality of life, and financial security. If you have not done Long-Term Care Planning, Estate Planning, or Incapacity Planning (or had your Planning documents reviewed in the past several years), or if you have a loved one who is nearing the need for long-term care or already receiving long-term care, please call us to make an appointment:
Fairfax Elder Law: 703-691-1888
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About Evan H Farr, CELA, CAP
