Bryan Johnson diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis (Image AI Generated)
Tech entrepreneur and legendary anti-ageing enthusiast Bryan Johnson, popularly known for his strict anti-ageing regime, has announced that he now has a condition called Autoimmune Gastritis (AIG). Sharing the news on social media, Johnson wrote, "My stomach is eating itself," describing a condition that had remained hidden despite years of regular health monitoring. He was diagnosed after "stomach biopsies and blood work" was conducted in a search of his longstanding low iron level, Johnson said.
His discovery has led to the identification of a relatively unknown autoimmune disease condition that will gradually creep up on the stomach for years without anyone knowing until the symptoms show.
Autoimmune gastritis is a persistent autoimmune disorder triggered by an immune response to the cells of the gut lining in the stomach. They make stomach juice and a special protein called intrinsic factor, which is used to absorb vitamin B12.
As the disease worsens the stomach is unable to make as much stomach acid, and iron and B12 levels in the body become low. This can result in anemia and health issues in the long-run.
Regular medical check-ups are recommended because autoimmune gastritis may be linked to a higher risk of stomach cancer in the long run, according to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the Cleveland Clinic.
He said doctors have been monitoring his life and he took iron for years, but he was still always low on ferritin even when doctors kept telling him to take iron. The underlying cause was not identified using routine blood tests or the stomach biopsy until special tests of the blood and stomach identified the underlying cause as an autoimmune gastritis.
He also revealed he had been diagnosed at age 21 with auto-immune hypothyroidism and experts say those who suffer from the first type of autoimmune disease are more susceptible to the others.
There are several reasons why auto-immune gastritis can go undiagnosed, such as the fact that symptoms may not be evident during the early phases.
Common symptoms include:
The autoimmune gastritis occurs more frequently in those who have:
Experts estimate that there may be more cases than are diagnosed, as symptoms tend to last for several years, but are still relatively uncommon.
Unfortunately at present there is no cure for autoimmune gastritis but it can be managed through appropriate medical care. Typical focus for treatment is on:
Immunity cell sequencing, a relatively new field of bio-research, is just one of the advanced methods that Johnson hopes to utilize in his quest to better understand the disease and potential future treatments.
Disclaimer: The content on TheHealthSite.com is only for informational purposes. It is not at all professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.
