Ketamine and Biohacking: Bryan Johnson’s Mind-Blowing Experiment with Psychedelic Science

Ketamine – A Scientific Breakthrough or a Risky Experiment?

Biohacking, psychedelic therapy, and radical medical experiments are no longer just buzzwords—they are the new frontier of human optimization. At the heart of this revolution stands Bryan Johnson, a well-known biohacker and entrepreneur who recently experimented with ketamine, a substance both praised by the scientific community and viewed with caution by medical professionals.

But what really happened in this unique experiment? Can ketamine become a powerful tool for enhancing mental health and cognitive function, or is it just another risky venture with unknown consequences?

---

Who Is Bryan Johnson? The Biohacker Challenging Human Limitations

If anyone embodies the face of biohacking, it’s Bryan Johnson.

• A millionaire and creator of OS Fund, investing in cutting-edge technologies.
• Founder of Kernel, a company developing neurotechnologies to study brain activity.
• A man who has radically changed his body and mind, following the most extreme biohacking protocols, including customized nutrition, continuous blood monitoring, gene therapy, and now psychedelics.

One of his latest initiatives was to test ketamine therapy to explore whether it could enhance cognitive performance and mental clarity.

But was his experiment successful? Let’s find out.

---

What Is Ketamine? From Surgery to Psychedelic Medicine

Ketamine was first developed in 1962 as an anesthetic. However, in recent years, research has revealed that it has powerful antidepressant and psychedelic properties, including:

✅ Rapidly reducing depression and anxiety
✅ Promoting deep self-awareness
✅ Enhancing cognitive function and neuroplasticity

🚀 In 2019, the FDA approved esketamine (a ketamine derivative) for depression treatment, marking a major breakthrough in psychiatry.

But Johnson doesn’t suffer from depression. Instead, he wanted to test whether ketamine could boost cognitive function in healthy individuals.

---

Bryan Johnson’s Ketamine Experiment: How It Was Conducted

🔬 The experiment was supervised by medical professionals. Johnson underwent a controlled course of ketamine therapy, carefully tracking changes in his cognitive abilities and overall well-being.

Main Goals of the Experiment:

• Optimize cognitive function – improve information processing, focus, and memory.
• Explore psychedelic effects – how altered states of consciousness influence creativity and self-perception.
• Analyze neuroplasticity – whether ketamine enhances the brain’s learning and adaptability.

What Did Johnson Experience?

🔹 During the sessions, he reported altered perceptions of reality, an influx of unique ideas, and a deep sense of calm and clarity.

🔹 After completing the therapy, he noted better focus, improved sleep, and reduced stress levels.

📌 However, scientists warn that the long-term effects of ketamine use for cognitive enhancement are not yet fully understood.

---

Scientific Studies: Ketamine’s Role in Mental Health and Cognitive Enhancement

🔬 Scientific research confirms ketamine’s effectiveness:

📌 2023, American Psychiatric Association – 63% of patients with treatment-resistant depression reported significant improvement after ketamine therapy.

📌 Nature, 2022 – Ketamine activates neuroplasticity and helps form new neural connections, which could enhance cognitive function.

📌 The Lancet, 2021 – Ketamine reduces suicidal thoughts by 50% within 24 hours after administration.

🚀 Conclusion: Ketamine is not just a psychedelic but a potential tool for brain optimization.

Scientific Research on Ketamine in the US and Europe

In recent years, ketamine has gained significant attention from the scientific community due to its potential therapeutic properties, particularly in treating depression and other mental health disorders. Below are key studies conducted in the US and Europe.

United States

• Approval of Esketamine for Depression Treatment (2019):
  In March 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved esketamine, an isomer of ketamine, in the form of a nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression. This decision was based on studies showing the rapid antidepressant effects of the drug in patients who had not responded to traditional treatments.
  (rtvi.com)
• Research on Antidepressant Effects (2012):
  Psychiatrists Ronald Duman and George Aghajanian published a study in the journal Science in 2012, describing esketamine as “the most significant breakthrough in 50 years” in the treatment of mental health disorders. Their research demonstrated that ketamine effectively alleviates suicidal thoughts and treatment-resistant depression.
  (rtvi.com)

Europe

• Licensing Ketamine for Depression Treatment (2019):
  In December 2019, ketamine was licensed in Europe for depression treatment, marking a major shift in psychiatric practice. This decision followed a series of clinical trials showing ketamine’s effectiveness in rapidly relieving depressive symptoms in patients who had not responded to conventional antidepressants.
  (neurocardiologist.info)
• Neuroplasticity Research (2018):
  Scientists from the University of California, Davis in 2018 demonstrated that ketamine enhances neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire and form new neural connections. This finding highlights ketamine’s potential to restore neural networks in individuals with depression.
  (hightech.plus)

Ketamine Usage Statistics in the US and Europe

The use of ketamine in medical treatments, especially for depression and mental health disorders, has grown significantly in recent years. Below is a detailed breakdown of ketamine usage statistics in the US and Europe.

United States

Metric	Value
Year of Esketamine Approval for Depression	2019
Patients Treated with Esketamine in the First Year	Around 6,000
Average Cost Per Esketamine Treatment	$590–$885
Recommended Number of Treatments in the First Month	8
Total Cost of First Month of Treatment	$4,720–$7,080
Percentage of Patients Showing Improvement	63% (based on clinical studies)

Source: RTVI

Europe

Metric	Value
Year of Ketamine Licensing for Depression	2019
Number of Countries Approving Ketamine for Psychiatric Use	28 (EU Member States)
Average Cost Per Ketamine Treatment	€400–€700
Recommended Number of Treatments in the First Month	6–8
Total Cost of First Month of Treatment	€2,400–€5,600
Percentage of Patients Showing Improvement	70% (based on European clinical trials)

Source: TechInsider

Despite promising results, ketamine therapy still requires careful medical supervision due to potential side effects and risks of dependency.

---

Risks and Side Effects: How Safe Is Ketamine?

🔴 Like any powerful substance, ketamine has risks:

❌ Potential for psychological dependence with frequent use.
❌ Dissociative effects – feeling detached from reality.
❌ Memory impairment with prolonged use.
❌ Urinary tract issues (ketamine cystitis) in heavy users.

📌 Experts caution that using ketamine without medical supervision can be dangerous.

---

The Future of Ketamine: Will It Become a Mainstream Biohacking Tool?

❓ Will we one day use ketamine like caffeine or nootropics?

👉 For now, scientists continue research, and ketamine remains a controversial but promising tool for cognitive enhancement.

💡 Conclusion: Bryan Johnson’s biohacking journey has once again pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. But should we follow his example? That’s a question science has yet to answer definitively.

---

Final Thoughts: The Expanding Limits of Biohacking

✅ Johnson’s experiment brought attention to new possibilities with ketamine.
✅ Research confirms its effectiveness, but long-term risks are not fully known.
✅ Ketamine remains a topic of debate – the medical community is divided.

🔥 The future of biohacking is already here. But are we ready for it?