Biohacking

Source-This post on Biohacking is based on the article “Biohacking and the race to become superhuman” published in “The Hindu” on 28th March 2024.

Why in the News?

The latest trend in biohacking has garnered widespread attention online, particularly after Bryan Johnson, the founder of KernelCo and Blueprint, announced his annual investment of $2 million to reduce his biological age.

About biohacking

1. About Biohacking: It involves altering one’s biology, often through self-experimentation and technology.

2. Aim: It aims at improving physical and cognitive functions, optimizing health, and reaching individual objectives.

3. Categories of Biohacking: There are various categories and mechanism for biohacking:

a) Age biohacking: Age biohacking particularly focuses on cellular senescence. It is gaining popularity among individuals aged 35 to 50 who start experiencing signs of aging. Many people are interested in maintaining cellular health and regeneration to mitigate aesthetic and bodily changes associated with aging.

b) Energy biohacking: This method focuses on conserving energy by prioritizing proper rest and sleep. Stress relief practices also fit within this category.

c) Intertwining food and biohacking: Intertwining food and biohacking synergizes to enhance aspects like digestion, weight loss, and metabolic efficiency. This approach capitalizes on individuals’ understanding of managing what, how, and when to eat, facilitating optimization of dietary habits for better health outcomes.

d) Diet and nutrition biohacking: It include the consumption of supplements for blood sugar, continuous glucose monitors, use of metabolism monitoring devices, intermittent fasting practices etc.

3. Biohacking is popular among sports enthusiasts seeking a performance edge. A recent study suggests that even a single high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session can enhance brain neuroplasticity, facilitating the rewiring or alteration of neural connections.

4. Although certain biohacking methods may seem radical, others such as meditation and intermittent fasting are well-established practices that have proven to be effective over time.

5. Regulations status associated with biohacking in India: Currently, India lacks specific regulations directly addressing biohacking.

a) While the FSSAI introduced regulations for nutraceuticals in 2016 however their enforcement is uncertain.

b) The CDSCO has guidelines concerning the production and distribution of biological products like vaccines and gene therapies but these do not comprehensively address all biohacking practices.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology ( Health)