‘It was killing my brain’: Tech millionaire Bryan Johnson reveals how he fixed his posture after an MRI

Bryan Johnson, a 46-year-old software millionaire, has been in the news recently for his remarkable journey to improve his posture. Known for his quest to reverse his biological age, Johnson took to social media to reveal how five key habits have helped him make significant changes to his posture. His journey began after receiving an MRI that he described as a “time bomb of a problem” related to his posture.

In a series of posts, Johnson expressed surprise at the MRI findings, stating, “I didn’t realize how terrible my posture was until an MRI showed it was slowly killing my brain.” According to him, the scan revealed that his posture restricted blood flow to his brain, which in turn affected its circulation to the heart. He articulated the serious risks associated with this problem and wondered aloud if he might suffer a seizure or stroke due to his condition. Johnson emphasized that many people could be unknowingly at risk due to similar poor postural habits.

“Our posture standards are pretty bad,” he noted, pointing to common behaviors like slumping in chairs and staring at screens for long periods. Johnson explained that poor posture has become normalized in society and this can have a wide range of negative health consequences. It listed problems such as musculoskeletal pain, circulatory problems, digestive problems, impaired lung function, nerve compression, spinal misalignment, increased stress, fatigue, mood swings, reduced motivation and even sleep disturbances.

In her posts, Johnson shared five habits she adopted to dramatically improve her posture. First, he introduced a simple mental exercise designed to help people remember to maintain an upright position. Second, he warned against the habit of looking down at devices, encouraging people to hold their phones at eye level to avoid tilting their heads downward.

The third habit he recommended was moving every 30 minutes throughout the day. Johnson suggested activities like taking a brisk walk, climbing stairs, stretching or even dancing. He highlighted that these actions promote better blood flow and provide a necessary restoration of posture.

In his later posts, he revealed two exercises specifically aimed at strengthening posture-related muscles. He acknowledged that while developing these often neglected muscles can cause initial pain, that discomfort is a sign of progress rather than setback.

“Improving my posture has been one of the most important things I’ve done in my wellness efforts at Blueprint,” Johnson said. He noted that good posture carries a significant psychological impact, stating, “When you stand tall, you exude confidence and self-acceptance.”

Additionally, Johnson highlighted the ripple effect that improved posture can have on others. He shared that in his family, when someone sees another slouched, they make a “zzzzzip” sound, prompting an instant correction without the need for further discussion.

Johnson, a former Silicon Valley executive, is known for his obsession with anti-aging techniques. He reportedly spends around $2 million a year on medical diagnoses and treatments, along with a strict diet, sleep and exercise regimen, all aimed at slowing or even reversing the aging process. Recently, he also shared his success in reversing male pattern baldness and restoring his natural hair color in one year. Prior to this, he underwent a radical “total plasma” exchange aimed at cleansing toxins from his body.