Longevity 'guru' Bryan Johnson has announced his diagnosis with autoimmune gastritis, a chronic and incurable stomach condition. The condition was discovered after years of low ferritin despite supplements.
Key facts
- •Longevity 'guru' Bryan Johnson has been diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis, an incurable chronic stomach condition.
- •The condition involves the immune system attacking the lining of the stomach, specifically parietal cells.
- •Johnson's diagnosis followed years of low ferritin levels despite supplements, without anemia or other clear symptoms.
- •Autoimmune gastritis can quietly damage the stomach for years before causing obvious symptoms, making early detection difficult.
- •Current medical care focuses on managing symptoms, replacing deficient nutrients like iron and B12, and monitoring for complications.
- •Johnson intends to pursue experimental approaches to the disease, acknowledging that current research is preclinical.
Bryan Johnson, known as a longevity 'guru,' has revealed he has autoimmune gastritis, an incurable chronic condition affecting the stomach. The diagnosis came after years of persistent low ferritin levels, a measure of stored iron, despite his dietary changes and oral iron supplements. Johnson stated he had no anemia or other recognizable symptoms, and the condition was identified through blood testing, an upper endoscopy, and stomach biopsies.
By the numbers
Condition Discovery and Symptoms
Johnson's diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis, a condition where the immune system attacks the stomach lining, followed years of low ferritin. He reported not having anemia or other clear symptoms, and the condition was found after his medical team conducted blood tests, an upper endoscopy, and stomach biopsies. This highlights a challenge of autoimmune gastritis, as it can damage the stomach for years before causing obvious symptoms like anemia, potentially leading to permanent damage and difficulty absorbing iron or vitamin B12.
Understanding Autoimmune Gastritis
Autoimmune gastritis is distinct from H. pylori gastritis, which is caused by a bacterial infection; Johnson had already tested negative for H. pylori. The condition affects parietal cells in the upper stomach, which secrete hydrochloric acid. An estimated 0.5% to 2% of people in the United States may have autoimmune gastritis, and the overwhelming majority of these cases are asymptomatic. Persistent iron deficiency, even without anemia, can be an early clue, and B12 deficiency can also occur, leading to symptoms like fatigue, weakness, or neurological issues.
Treatment and Experimental Approaches
There is currently no approved cure for autoimmune gastritis; treatment focuses on managing symptoms, identifying and replacing nutrient deficiencies like iron and B12, and monitoring for potential complications such as gastric cancer. Gastric cancer develops in approximately 0.12% of patients with autoimmune gastritis each year. Johnson plans to investigate experimental approaches to 'solve' the condition, examining immune cells and inflammatory signals in his stomach, though he acknowledges that current evidence is preclinical at best and therapies still need to be developed.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Healthline.
