Meet the 29-year-old doctor leading a $2 million per year reverse aging process for Bryan Johnson, charging up to $1,000 per hour.

Meet the 29-year-old doctor leading a $2 million per year reverse aging process for Bryan Johnson, charging up to $1,000 per hour.

The Quest for Longevity: Bryan Johnson and Oliver Zolman

Image Source: Fortune

In the pursuit of eternal youth, some individuals are willing to go to extraordinary lengths. One such person is Bryan Johnson, a successful Silicon Valley founder who reportedly spent $2 million on a longevity craze. But behind this extravagant quest, there is a team of doctors and health experts led by the young and ambitious Oliver Zolman, a millennial doctor with a passion for turning back the clock.

Zolman, a 29-year-old professional evidence-based rejuvenation coach and clinician trainer, has been fascinated with longevity and regenerative medicine since his early years. His fascination with growing new ears on mice and making frogs grow eyes in their stomachs led him to think of it as a video game. He started attending longevity conferences as an undergraduate studying medicine at King’s College London, often being the youngest person there.

Zolman’s interest in longevity became even more personal after he suffered an injury while playing basketball during his first year of medical school. Despite working with doctors, he struggled to walk for a year before taking matters into his own hands. Through physical therapy and treating himself, he regained his mobility. This experience propelled him further into the longevity field.

Now, Zolman teaches longevity school for doctors looking to branch into regenerative medicine while working in his laboratory in Cambridge. He also collaborates with Bryan Johnson as part of “Project Blueprint,” which aims to reverse Johnson’s biological age through over 200 longevity-related protocols. Zolman’s drive for innovation is evident as he seeks to explore every possible age- and disease-modifying therapy, pushing the boundaries of science and medicine.

One of Zolman’s ambitious goals is to discover how to reverse the age of all 78 organs in both genders by 25% by 2030. To achieve this, his longevity protocol encompasses two aspects: measurements and therapies. Instead of relying solely on common modalities such as VO2 max, Zolman measures all 78 human organs to identify the ones most in need of his therapies. By targeting these organs, he aims to bring individuals’ markers below their chronological age.

According to Bryan Johnson, Zolman’s approach has yielded impressive results. Johnson claims that his lung capacity has been reversed to that of an 18-year-old and his heart capacity to that of a 37-year-old. Zolman’s protocol includes three levels, with the first being lifestyle changes aimed at extending people’s health span and lifespan. The second level involves non-age related modalities, while the third level focuses on organ rejuvenation protocols to fully reverse aging.

Critics, however, have expressed doubts about Zolman and Johnson’s approach. Dr. Moshe Szyf, a professor at McGill University and founder of biotech company HKG EpiTherapeutics, emphasizes the need for personalized changes in lifestyle but acknowledges the potential for lifestyle modifications to reverse aging due to epigenetics. Dr. Andrew Steele, a longevity scientist, believes that genetics also play a significant role in the aging process, making a one-size-fits-all approach unlikely.

Although Zolman acknowledges that remarkable results have yet to be achieved, he defends the rigorous safety testing of his endeavors. He is aware that experimental longevity therapies should never lead to fatal outcomes. Despite criticism, Zolman takes pride in the scientific validity and safety of his approach.

One of the underlying factors driving the quest for longevity is the financial investment required. While Bryan Johnson can afford the expensive routine and personalized team of doctors, not everyone has access to such resources. Dr. Szyf questions how Johnson’s approach can be applied to the masses who lack the means for such personalized treatments.

For Oliver Zolman, it’s not about the money. Despite working with and benefiting from his association with a successful Silicon Valley founder, Zolman lives modestly and invests his income into his lab. He views a higher purpose in his work, driven by the desire to push the boundaries of human potential and unlock the secrets of longevity.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Bryan Johnson and Oliver Zolman represents a fascinating and ambitious quest for longevity and reverse aging. Their approach combines cutting-edge therapies, rigorous scientific testing, and a gamification of rejuvenation. While critics express skepticism, Zolman’s determination to innovate and his emphasis on safety are commendable. Ultimately, time will tell if their protocol truly turns back the clock, and whether their findings can be applied beyond those who have access to significant resources.