Wealthy Americans Spend Up to $250,000 a Year on Longevity Care as Doctors Question Evidence

Former model turned entrepreneur Kate Tolo recently made news after revealing publicly that she is following in the biohacking footsteps of her boyfriend, Bryan Johnson. Johnson, who claims to be age 49 and celebrates his birthday every 19 months, is a venture capitalist known for his longevity aspirations and for popularizing the philosophy “Don’t Die.” He has received plasma infusions from his teenage son and donated his own plasma to his father. Tolo, who calls herself “the most measured woman,” says she tracks her cortisol levels daily and collects samples of her blood, urine and stool. “I’m doing this for women,” Tolo told Wired earlier this month.

Tolo and Johnson have plenty of company. Wealthy individuals are routinely fueling the growth of longevity clinics, often spending tens of thousands of dollars a year on memberships that promise access to full-body MRIs, personalized therapies and testing under the care of longevity doctors. The goal is to optimize health and, often, extend life. Whether people should spend thousands of dollars in the name of leading a healthier, more successful life is a nuanced question, the report said, and comes down to convenience and personal need. Physicians and industry experts advise consulting a physician familiar with one’s needs before making major changes that can affect health.

Longevity doctors, typically medical practitioners working to help people lead healthier, longer lives, can tell patients a lot about how their bodies are holding up over time. A typical first session at a longevity clinic might involve blood and metabolic testing, VO2 max testing to determine fitness level, and “biological age” testing, sometimes called the “credit score for the body.” There are approximately 800 longevity clinics in the United States, according to a June 2024 estimate from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Clinics typically test patients’ biomarkers of aging, such as inflammation levels, immune system health and cognitive ability. Their doctors often recommend personalized practices, therapies, supplements and nutrition guidance based on the results.

Some longevity tests and treatments are based on emerging science, and people may spend large sums despite not having conclusive evidence that multi-thousand-dollar treatments can help them live longer, said Dr. Andrea Maier, director of the National University of Singapore Academy for Healthy Longevity and founder of Singapore-based Chi Longevity, a longevity medicine clinic. “There’s really no biology behind [the IV drips],” Maier said, referring to NAD+ IV drips, which are popular because the coenzyme NAD+ is vital for metabolism and naturally decreases with age. Intravenous drips for supplements ranging from multivitamins to minerals like magnesium can cost $150 to $1,000 per session, according to some clinics’ websites. Neil Paulvin, a New York City-based longevity and regenerative medicine doctor, agreed. There is not enough research to support the idea that NAD+ IV drips can infuse the coenzyme into the human body at a cellular level, Paulvin told CNBC Make It last March.

Some clinics also offer full-body MRIs, which scan for abnormalities from cancerous tumors to evidence of stroke. Those head-to-toe scans can range from $1,000 to more than $3,000, according to price listings on some clinics’ websites. While they purport to detect early signs of some diseases, they might also pull up non-threatening medical issues. For elective full-body MRIs performed without a medical need, “in many cases, they lead to downstream harm, even though you think you’re helping the patient,” said Matthew Davenport, a radiologist and executive vice chair in the department of radiology at the University of Michigan Medical School. When an imaging test of the whole body finds something, he said, it often provokes additional actions. A follow-up could be as simple as a doctor’s visit, or it could involve lab tests, more imaging tests, an endoscopy or surgery to remove something. Those procedures may carry financial implications.

The most common, research-backed recommendations for optimal health outcomes are the same tried-and-true advice people typically hear. Many longevity doctors suggest basic low-cost health tips, such as exercising, spending quality time with loved ones and prioritizing whole-food-first diets. Memberships in clinics that offer concierge services for analyzing health data are not cheap. Luxury fitness company Equinox Fitness Club’s “Optimize” gym membership includes personal training, according to the report.

Editor’s Summary: Wealthy Americans are spending up to $250,000 a year on longevity clinics, testing and therapies, according to CNBC. Doctors say some offerings, such as NAD+ IV drips and elective full-body MRIs, lack conclusive evidence or can lead to unnecessary follow-up care. Basic low-cost habits remain the most research-backed path to better health.