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Bryan Johnson Says He’s Now a ‘Genetically Enhanced Human’

He increased his follistatin levels with pricey injections.

Bryan Johnson surrounded by DNA

Project Blueprint founder and tech billionaire Bryan Johnson claims he is now a “genetically enhanced human.” The reason: he recently underwent follistatin gene therapy to boost his lifespan and unwind aging.  

The treatment isn’t FDA approved. But animal studies suggest that follistatin gene therapy may be a promising longevity treatment. 

According to Johnson, follistatin therapy  has benefits like “epigenetic age reduction, monitoring organs for possible improvements, improved muscle volume and strength, and reduced speed of aging.” 

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What is Follistatin?

Follistatin is a glycoprotein—a compound made of sugar and protein molecules—which is frequently found in the liver (1). This compound plays a role in promoting cell growth and increasing muscle tissue, which is why it is sometimes used for people with muscular dystrophy (2).

Several animal studies found that mice who were injected with follistatin had improved muscle composition and bone density, decreased body fat and increased lifespan (3). However, the benefits of follistatin have yet to be studied on healthy human participants. 

How to Boost Follistatin

While it’s hard to access follistatin gene therapy if you aren’t a well-connected, longevity-obsessed billionaire (at least for the time being), there are several ways to boost your follistatin levels without buying price-y injectables.

Foods with follistatin

Only a few foods—like egg yolks—contain follistatin. However, soy isoflavones and epicatechin (a type of polyphenol) may increase your follistatin levels (4, 5).

Foods with epicatechin:

Foods with soy isoflavones:

Exercise

Men who engaged in cycling or one-legged knee extensor exercises during an intermittent fasting period had higher levels of follistatin, according to a 2011 year study (6). Following three hours of cycling, follistatin levels peaked by 7-fold three hours into recovery.

About the author

Rebekah Harding is a Health Writer at The Edge. She is an experienced health and lifestyle writer with both digital and print bylines in Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Yoga Journal, Giddy, and more.