American entrepreneur and longevity advocate Bryan Johnson, widely recognized for his focus on reversing ageing, recently made headlines during his trip to India. Johnson abruptly ended a podcast recording with host Nikhil Kamath on the popular show WTF, citing concerns about India’s deteriorating air quality.
Air Quality Concerns in India
Johnson highlighted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) inside the recording studio reached 130, with PM2.5 levels at 75 µg/m³, equating to the effect of smoking 3.4 cigarettes in 24 hours. The conditions reportedly led to skin rashes, burning eyes, and throat irritation.
“This was my third day in India, and the air pollution had made my skin break out in a rash and my eyes and throat burn,” he said in a social media post.
He further expressed surprise at how normalized air pollution has become in the country, noting, “People would be outside running. Babies and small children exposed from birth. No one wore a mask, which can significantly decrease exposure. It was so confusing.”
A Call for Urgent Action
Johnson criticized India’s leaders for not treating air pollution as a national emergency, stating that improving air quality would significantly enhance public health, even more than curing all cancers.
He remarked:
“The evidence shows that India would improve the health of its population more by cleaning up air quality than by curing all cancers.”
Air Pollution vs. Obesity: A Global Perspective
Drawing a parallel, Johnson compared India’s air pollution crisis with obesity in the United States, highlighting how both issues are often overlooked.
“When I returned to the US, my eyes were fresh to see what is normalised to me. I saw obesity everywhere. 42.4% of Americans are obese, and because I was around it all the time, I had been mostly oblivious to it,” he explained.
While acknowledging the long-term health impact of obesity, Johnson questioned why American leaders have not declared it a national emergency, hinting at vested interests and systemic inertia.
Bryan Johnson’s Longevity Mission
Bryan Johnson is not new to controversy. After selling his payment company Braintree to PayPal for $800 million in 2013, he turned his attention to health and longevity, launching Project Blueprint—an initiative to biologically reverse his age.
Key Highlights of His Longevity Efforts:
- Johnson claims his regimen has reduced his biological age by five years.
- His routine includes a strict vegan diet, six-day-a-week exercise, and regular medical testing, ranging from MRIs to plasma exchanges.
- He spends an estimated $2 million annually on health experiments, including blood transfusions from younger donors and cosmetic procedures like fat injections into his face.
One experiment, Project Baby Face, ended disastrously, triggering a severe allergic reaction that caused temporary vision loss. Despite setbacks, Johnson continues to push the boundaries of longevity science.
Conclusion
Bryan Johnson’s abrupt end to his India trip sheds light on the serious health implications of air pollution in the country. His experiences and reflections serve as a wake-up call for both India and the US to address their respective public health crises. While his longevity mission invites both admiration and skepticism, Johnson’s commitment to health advocacy cannot be denied.