Some biohackers have a strong interest in self-experimentation, from taking supplements to using devices that synchronize brainwaves for focus or relaxation. Others have more radical ideas, such as injecting themselves with gene therapies that improve stamina and lifespan.
Many people are already doing biohacks without realising it. They might be eating within a certain window, tracking their food with an app, or taking part in ice baths and cryotherapy to accelerate recovery from intense exercise or stress.
Treatment
Medications keep HIV in check, but no one has ever been cured. Only three people who received transplants of blood stem cells for other reasons became HIV-free after their procedure. They had natural immunity because their donor cells didn’t have the common gene that HIV uses to infect T cells, immune system soldiers in the blood. Scientists hope to create such immunity by reprogramming a person’s own cells with gene editing tools. These include zinc finger nucleases that cut DNA at a precise spot to disable the gene that makes the virus’s entryway. The cells are then re-engineered so they can’t infect T cells and are returned to the patient.
Another approach uses mRNA, molecules that can direct the body to make proteins. This is similar to how a vaccine works. Scientists can program the mRNA to attack a cell’s receptor for HIV, making it harder for the virus to infect it.
Another biohacking technique is IV therapy, which delivers vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream for higher absorption rates than oral supplements. This can enhance cellular function, improve performance, and increase energy levels. It can also be used to support a healthy immune system and prevent illness.