Living With Autoimmune Gastritis: Insights From Patients
WHO:
STAT - Bryan Johnson, a 48-year-old multimillionaire biohacker and founder of the Blueprint startup.
Business Insider - Lori Taylor, a 60-year-old registered dietitian and adjunct professor at Saybrook University.
WHAT:
STAT - Bryan Johnson stated, “I’m going to try and solve it,” regarding his autoimmune gastritis diagnosis.
STAT - Johnson's team is exploring experimental interventions, including CAR-T therapy, for autoimmune gastritis.
Business Insider - Lori Taylor co-authored a review paper proposing that replacing lost stomach acid should be investigated as a treatment for autoimmune gastritis.
Business Insider - Taylor expressed hope that Johnson will use his platform to increase awareness about autoimmune gastritis.
STAT - Bryan Johnson announced on social media that he has autoimmune gastritis, stating, “I have an autoimmune disease. My stomach is eating itself.”
STAT - Autoimmune gastritis affects an estimated 4% of people worldwide.
Business Insider - Lori Taylor was diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis in 2018 after experiencing symptoms for decades.
Business Insider - A 2024 study indicated that autoimmune gastritis is associated with deficiencies in vitamin B12, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.
STAT - Patients with autoimmune gastritis are 13 times more likely to develop neuroendocrine tumors.
Business Insider - Taylor has had four sets of iron infusions over the past eight years, which she described as "life-changing."
WHERE:
Business Insider - Lori Taylor lives in Whidbey Island, Washington.
WHEN:
Business Insider - Taylor plans to focus on autoimmune gastritis in her doctorate program at Rutgers University starting in the fall.
Business Insider - Lori Taylor was diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis in 2018.
Business Insider - Taylor plans to start her doctorate in clinical nutrition at Rutgers University in the fall.
WHY:
Outside - Dr. Supriya Rao noted that autoimmune gastritis is a chronic, progressive disease where the immune system attacks stomach cells that produce acid, leading to atrophy of the stomach lining.
STAT - Autoimmune gastritis is linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer and deficiencies in vitamin B12, which can cause anemia and neurological complications.
Business Insider - Taylor attributed her iron deficiency to IBS and perimenopause before being diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis.
HOW:
STAT - A definitive diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis requires an upper endoscopy with biopsies.
Business Insider - Taylor's treatment includes supplements, iron infusions, and frequent B12 shots.
Business Insider - Taylor supplemented her meals with betaine hydrochloride to temporarily increase stomach acid, which alleviated her IBS symptoms.
(UPDATED July 9, 2026 08:09 UTC)
Bryan Johnson has announced his intention to tackle his autoimmune gastritis diagnosis and his team is exploring experimental treatments, including CAR-T therapy. Co-author of a recent review paper, Lori Taylor, hopes Johnson will leverage his platform to raise awareness about this condition, while she plans to focus on autoimmune gastritis in her doctorate program at Rutgers University starting this fall. Dr. Supriya Rao has highlighted that autoimmune gastritis is a chronic disease where the immune system attacks the stomach cells that produce acid, resulting in the atrophy of the stomach lining.
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(UPDATED July 8, 2026 22:25 UTC)
Bryan Johnson, a 48-year-old multimillionaire biohacker, recently revealed on social media that he has been diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis, stating, “My stomach is eating itself.” This condition, which affects about 4% of people worldwide, has also impacted Lori Taylor, a 60-year-old registered dietitian from Whidbey Island, Washington, who was diagnosed in 2018 and has undergone multiple iron infusions to manage her symptoms. Taylor plans to begin her doctorate in clinical nutrition at Rutgers University in the fall, as she continues to navigate the challenges associated with her diagnosis, including deficiencies in essential vitamins and an increased risk of serious health complications.