How biohacking is helping Indians suffering from diabetes, heart disease, gut problems and depression

Bengaluru: Last December, renowned biohacker and influencer Bryan Johnson stood in a conference room in Bengaluru and asked the audience a simple question: “What’s causing you to deprioritize sleep?" For instance, a typical functional medicine practitioner, who takes a holistic approach to treating lifestyle-related health issues, charges around ₹10,000 to analyze a patient’s bloodwork and recommend therapies and supplements.Comprehensive diagnostic tests range from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000, while more advanced assessments such as gut microbiome or genetic testing can cost between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000. Functional medicine seeks to understand the underlying factors contributing to illness and empowering individuals to take control of their health," says Dr. Ashwani Garg, a Bengaluru-based physician, who transitioned from regular medicine to functional medicine. “Most of the nutraceutical market in India has been driven by marketing, not results," says Rashi Mathur, a functional medicine health coach and co-founder of nutraceutical brand Vita One. “In the next 6-9 months, I expect AI in functional medicine to become more precise, helping patients understand their health in a way they never could before," says Garg.