Bryan Johnson Just Ditched Your Favorite Longevity Drugs

Bryan Johnson Just Ditched Your Favorite Longevity Drugs

Bryan Johnson, the man famously spending $2 million a year to reverse his biological age, just made a surprising confession: he's pulled both NMN/NR and rapamycin from his daily Blueprint protocol. After years of being a poster child for these compounds, Johnson's 2026 update reveals a significant shift, reducing NAD+ precursors to six days a week and entirely stopping rapamycin, a drug he last took in 2024. This isn't just a casual tweak; it's a high-stakes decision from someone at the absolute bleeding edge of self-optimization, suggesting that even the most committed biohackers are constantly recalibrating their approach based on evolving data.

This move comes as a new systematic review, spanning 113 human and rodent studies from 2010 to 2025, casts a skeptical eye on NAD+ precursors like NMN and NR. While these supplements undeniably boost NAD+ levels in blood and tissue, the review found no robust evidence that this translates into actual lifespan extension or age reversal in healthy adults. The decline of NAD+ with age is real, and its correlation with hallmarks of aging is also real, but the leap to assuming supplementation reverses these hallmarks in non-deficient humans remains unproven in clinical literature.

Yet, the rapamycin story isn't as clear-cut. A massive 167-study meta-analysis confirmed that rapamycin extends vertebrate lifespan comparably to dietary restriction. Even more compelling, the PEARL trial, the first long-term human clinical trial, showed that 10mg weekly improved muscle mass in women and bone mass in men over 48 weeks, with no severe side effects. The catch? The PEARL study, while promising, was funded by a company selling rapamycin and was powered for safety, not efficacy, with only 115 participants. Johnson's decision highlights the complex, often contradictory, nature of longevity science, where even the most promising interventions are under constant re-evaluation.

Gobble's Take: Don't blindly follow the gurus; even the ones spending millions are still figuring it out. Source: The Phoenix Lab

The "Love Hormone" Just Got a Longevity Upgrade

Imagine a hormone that not only deepens social bonds but also extends life. Researchers at UC Berkeley just unveiled a new study suggesting that oxytocin, often dubbed the "love hormone," when combined with an anti-inflammatory compound, can extend lifespan. This isn't just about feeling good; it's about a fundamental biological interaction that could hold keys to our own longevity.

The study points to a fascinating synergy: the social and emotional benefits of oxytocin might be intertwined with its ability to mitigate inflammation, a known driver of aging. While the exact mechanisms are still being unraveled, the idea that a compound linked to human connection could also be a potent anti-aging tool is genuinely surprising. It moves beyond the typical supplement stack and into the realm of our most basic human experiences.

This research hints at a future where our emotional well-being and social connections aren't just pleasant side effects of a good life, but active participants in our biological longevity.

Gobble's Take: Maybe your best anti-aging hack isn't in a pill, but in a hug. Source: Perplexity Search (evergreen) (https://www.nad.com/nad-research/aging-longevity)

Monkeys Just Got a Biological Age Reset With Stem Cells

Scientists have achieved what sounds like science fiction: reversing signs of aging in monkeys using stem cells. This isn't just a minor improvement; it's a breakthrough that saw stem cells effectively halt and even rewind some of the cellular damage associated with the aging process. The implications are profound, moving us closer to therapies that could genuinely rejuvenate human tissues and organs.

The research involved introducing specific stem cell populations into older monkeys, leading to observable reversals in age-related biomarkers. Think of it as hitting the reset button on a biological clock that's been ticking for decades. While human trials are still a significant leap away, the success in a primate model offers a powerful proof of concept for regenerative medicine's potential to combat aging at its core.

The era of simply slowing down aging might be giving way to actively reversing it, starting with our closest genetic relatives.

Gobble's Take: Your grandkids might actually get to see a real-life Benjamin Button. Source: Perplexity Search (evergreen) (https://www.nad.com/nad-research/aging-longevity)

The Common Blood Pressure Drug That Might Also Extend Your Life

A new Johns Hopkins study has cast a spotlight on an unexpected player in the longevity game: Losartan, an FDA-approved drug commonly prescribed for high blood pressure. This isn't a new experimental compound; it's a medication already in millions of medicine cabinets, and researchers are now suggesting it may also extend lifespan.

The study indicates that Losartan's mechanism of action, beyond just managing hypertension, may also influence pathways linked to cellular aging and longevity. While the full scope of its anti-aging benefits is still being investigated, the idea that an existing, widely available, and relatively safe drug could offer a dual benefit of managing a common age-related condition and extending healthy life is a game-changer. It bypasses years of drug development and regulatory hurdles.

Sometimes, the most profound longevity breakthroughs aren't in futuristic labs, but hiding in plain sight in your local pharmacy.

Gobble's Take: Check your medicine cabinet – your longevity hack might already be there. Source: Perplexity Search (evergreen) (https://www.nad.com/nad-research/aging-longevity)

In Case You Missed It

Yesterday's top stories:

• Seven supplements walk into a lab — not all of them make it out
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• Someone finally built a program guide for the longevity circus