87-Year-Old Biohacker Spends £500k on Quest to 'Live Forever'

Helga Sands, a retired London banker, is pursuing experimental anti-aging therapies in her quest to extend her lifespan.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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At 87 years old, Helga Sands has embarked on an unconventional quest to significantly extend her lifespan. Over the past five years, she has spent an estimated £500,000 on a regimen of experimental therapies and supplements, including a £300,000 'rejuvenation cocktail' treatment in Panama. Sands' approach highlights a growing trend among older generations to proactively pursue extended healthspan, not just lifespan.

Why it matters

Sands' story represents a shift in the longevity movement, which is often associated with younger, affluent entrepreneurs. As a seasoned individual drawing on a lifetime of experience and financial independence, Sands' pursuit of anti-aging therapies challenges the stereotypes and demonstrates the growing interest in extending healthy years, even among older demographics.

The details

Sands' daily routine includes a combination of experimental treatments, such as taking 70 supplements, washing her hair with sheep shampoo, sleeping on silver-threaded sheets, and undergoing regular injections of microscopic molecules derived from amniotic fluid. She also plans to travel to Panama for a 'rejuvenation cocktail' treatment that is not available in the UK. These therapies, which are not approved by British regulators, have not been thoroughly tested for safety and effectiveness, according to experts.

  • Sands plans to travel to Panama for a 'rejuvenation cocktail' treatment next month.
  • Over the past five years, Sands has spent an estimated £500,000 on anti-aging therapies.

The players

Helga Sands

An 87-year-old retired London banker who is pursuing experimental anti-aging therapies in her quest to extend her lifespan.

Bryan Johnson

A prominent figure in the biohacking space who currently spends around $2 million annually on his de-aging efforts, including total plasma exchange, a more extreme procedure involving removing and replacing his blood plasma.

Mark Zuckerberg

The 41-year-old co-founder of Facebook who has invested heavily in anti-aging research.

Ilaria Bellantuono

A professor of musculoskeletal ageing at the University of Sheffield who cautions against the use of unproven anti-aging therapies, as their safety and effectiveness have not been established through rigorous clinical trials.

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What they’re saying

“You might like the idea of dying and going to heaven but I have no interest. I want to keep living because I still have so much to live for. I'm not slowing down but speeding up. Here's a new life.”

— Helga Sands (newsdirectory3.com)

“There are therapies out there that work but people don't have a clue about. And then there are the regulations that get in the way. So we say: the hell with it. We're going to do it.”

— Helga Sands (newsdirectory3.com)

“The safety and effectiveness of these therapies haven't been established through rigorous clinical trials and should be avoided.”

— Ilaria Bellantuono, Professor of musculoskeletal ageing, University of Sheffield (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

Sands and her partner have invested approximately £300,000 in developing a 'rejuvenation cocktail' that they plan to eventually produce and sell through a newly founded rejuvenation start-up.

The takeaway

Sands' pursuit of longevity, despite her advanced age, challenges the stereotypes associated with the biohacking movement and highlights the growing interest among older generations in extending their healthy years through experimental therapies. However, the safety and effectiveness of these treatments remain unproven, raising concerns from experts about the potential risks.