For biohackers in Singapore, aging is optional

Helen Yang often tells her three young kids: “Don’t worry, Mommy won’t die before you grow up. Mommy will probably live to 200.” She says it to allay their natural fears of losing her – but a part of her genuinely believes it.

After all, she’s part of a growing number of biohackers in Singapore who believe in optimizing health, extending lifespan, and delaying aging through science-backed strategies.

To them, the three traditional pillars of health – diet, exercise, and sleep – are no longer enough. They want to track sleep quality and glucose levels, experiment with anti-aging supplements, and embrace routines such as cold plunges, intermittent fasting, and red-light therapy.

Skeptics may frown at such extremes, but biohackers believe they will have the last laugh. Their clinical test results often show higher metabolism, lower inflammation, and sharper cognitive function compared to their peers – evidence that their radical interventions are working, they say.

Hyperbaric oxygen is believed to boost cellular repair, improve brain health, and reduce inflammation./ Photo credit: 02genes

For instance, the results of a recent body scan puts Yang’s metabolic age at 26 – at least 15 years younger than her real age.

“I’m in the best shape of my life,” she trills. “I’ve had three kids, but I’ve never felt better than I do now, even in my 20s and 30s.”

Even her husband has jumped on the biohacking bandwagon. As a tech executive who thrives on data, he was won over by the numbers.

The couple even rent a hyperbaric oxygen cocoon from wellness company O2genes at S$3,500 (US$2,580) a month. Hyperbaric oxygen is believed to boost cellular repair, improve brain health, and reduce inflammation, among other benefits.

Growing momentum

In Singapore, there are several hundred – if not thousands – of committed biohackers.

The invite-only WhatsApp group “Don’t Die SG” – inspired by American biohacker Bryan Johnson’s “Don’t Die” movement – has about 390 members who regularly exchange notes on supplements, therapies, and performance trackers.

But many biohackers prefer to quietly experiment on their own. They treat their bodies like ongoing science projects – tweaking diets, testing peptides, or stacking interventions – all in pursuit of more energy and sharper focus.

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One such biohacker is Nicholas Lin, an entrepreneur who runs several outfits, including a skin management and “gentle anti-aging” brand called La Dermalogique with his girlfriend.

Skepticism abounds

Both sides now