Divorced Bryan Johnson cites scientific research that strong relationships are the key to longevity

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The tech entrepreneur known for his extreme anti-aging regimen has turned his attention to an unexpected longevity intervention: romantic relationships.

Bryan Johnson, who has spent millions on experimental protocols to reverse aging, recently highlighted groundbreaking research suggesting that a strong primary relationship might be as powerful as any pharmaceutical or dietary intervention.

In a social media post, he declared that such relationships function as “a longevity drug, with GLP-1-like effects,” drawing a provocative comparison to the wildly popular weight-loss medications.

The comparison isn’t as far-fetched as it might sound. According to Johnson’s analysis of a 2025 study, high-quality marriages correlated with participants showing 12-15% lower body weight, enhanced brain function for appetite control, and improved gut-brain communication that promotes protective metabolites while reducing toxins.

“The quality of your closest relationship may shape your biology as much as sleep or nutrition,” Johnson wrote, positioning social bonds alongside the pillars of health typically emphasized in longevity circles.

The study examined 94 adults using an impressive array of tools—fMRI brain scans, gut microbiome analysis, plasma oxytocin measurements, and behavioral assessments. What researchers discovered was a complex biological cascade triggered by relationship quality.

The magic ingredient appears to be oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone.” When people experienced both marriage and high perceived emotional support, their oxytocin levels rose significantly. This hormonal shift then triggered a domino effect: better brain control when viewing tempting foods, healthier gut metabolic pathways, and ultimately lower body mass index.

The brain changes were particularly striking. Supportive relationships activated frontal executive-control regions during food-cue tasks, essentially strengthening the mental brakes that prevent overeating. Meanwhile, in the gut, these same social factors influenced tryptophan metabolism—pathways that regulate inflammation, immune function, and even mood.

Perhaps most remarkably, the benefits weren’t automatic. Simply being married wasn’t enough; the quality of emotional support made all the difference. Married individuals with high emotional support showed BMI levels approximately five points lower than their married peers with low support. For unmarried participants, emotional support didn’t produce the same metabolic benefits, suggesting something unique about committed partnerships.

Johnson, whose own marriage ended in divorce, didn’t shy away from acknowledging the study’s limitations in his post. The small sample size of 94 participants—only 29 married—and the cross-sectional design mean the findings show correlation, not causation. The higher average BMI in the married group and the predominantly overweight participant pool further complicate interpretations.

Still, the research represents the first empirical demonstration in humans of an oxytocin-brain-gut axis that mediates how social factors influence metabolism. Using structural equation modeling, researchers traced the pathway: relationship quality boosted oxytocin, which improved both brain food-cue responses and gut metabolite profiles, which together lowered BMI and reduced problematic eating behaviors.

The implications extend beyond individual health choices. If social connection operates as a biological regulator rather than merely a psychological comfort, obesity interventions might need to incorporate relationship counseling alongside diet and exercise plans.

Johnson is now currently dating Kate Tolo, who also plays a significant role in his longevity mission.

Whether longitudinal studies will confirm these preliminary findings remains to be seen.