Rejuvenation Olympics: Can Biohacking Slow Down Aging?
More than 14,700 people from around 40 countries have signed up for the unofficial Rejuvenation Olympics, hoping to slow their biological aging. Participants spend hundreds of euros on epigenetic tests to measure their pace of aging.
For centuries, humanity dreamed of a fountain of youth or a philosopher's stone. In the 21st century, the search for eternal youth has become far more technological—and far more expensive. Modern longevity enthusiasts rely on a wide range of methods: blood tests, epigenetic screenings, red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, saunas, cold plunges, and daily consumption of more than a hundred dietary supplements. In some cases, they even receive blood plasma transfusions from their own children.
This approach has given rise to the unofficial "Rejuvenation Olympics" — a competition in which the finish line is not the end of a marathon but death itself. The winner is the person who reaches it the latest. It is not a contest for medals but a game against biology.
The event is not reserved for billionaires. Currently, more than 14,700 participants from roughly 40 countries are registered. They regularly take epigenetic tests to find out how fast their bodies are actually aging. Age is determined not by a passport but by biomarkers — hundreds of indicators that reflect the biological condition of the heart, liver, brain, and other organs. Each test costs several hundred euros, and at least three tests are required to qualify. Based on the results, the so-called "pace of aging" is calculated.
A score of 1.0 means the body ages exactly as fast as the calendar suggests. A score of 0.5 means that during one year, the body ages only six months. Whether this guarantees a longer life remains unknown. Still, thousands of people continue to compete for the title of world champion in slowing down aging.
