The rise of longevity fixation syndrome and its mental toll

A single pitta bread — served with hummus instead of the crudites he had preordered — pushed Jason Wood to a breakdown. His attempts to control every aspect of life had spiralled: strict organic or raw diets with calories counted, twice-daily workouts, constant tracking of heart rate, blood pressure, body fat, sleep and glucose, plus regular IV vitamin drips and nasal oxygen treatments that cost $250–$300 a time.

He estimates he spent about $10,000 in total and was living by a rigid routine that left little room for social life. Wood’s motivation was clear: he wanted to extend his life after losing both parents prematurely to cancer. He now believes he suffered from what has been called longevity fixation syndrome — an anxiety-driven compulsion to control ageing and lifespan.

longevity fixation, anxiety, compulsion, ageing, lifespan, biohacking, health tracking, iv therapy, nasal oxygen, social isolation