Zomato founder and Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal recently shared a hypothesis on X (formerly Twitter) proposing that gravity may contribute to ageing by gradually reducing blood flow to specific brain regions. His statements, posted publicly in November 2025, quickly drew attention from medical professionals, researchers, and the general public, leading to a wider conversation about the science behind ageing and brain health.
Goyal described his idea as the “Gravity Ageing Hypothesis.” He suggested that the upright posture humans maintain over a lifetime may impose a subtle but continuous gravitational load on the brain. According to him, this might reduce blood supply to areas involved in metabolism, hormonal balance, and cellular repair.
He also claimed that early testing with inversion tables—devices that tilt the body upside down—showed a 7% increase in cerebral blood flow after six weeks of daily practice. Goyal positioned this as a potential strategy to slow down degenerative changes, though he acknowledged the need for more scientific validation.
The hypothesis immediately prompted responses from clinicians.
Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known online as “The Liver Doc,” stated that the idea lacked scientific basis. He stressed that lifestyle factors such as nutrition have a far clearer and evidence-supported role in long-term health than inversion practices.
Similarly, Dr. Rajesh Parikh, a senior gynecologist, described the theory as inconsistent with established physiology. He warned that inversion therapy may pose risks for people with hypertension, glaucoma, heart disease, or vascular disorders. Parikh pointed out that the brain maintains steady blood flow through autoregulation, regardless of body position, making the proposed mechanism unlikely.
Researchers noted that available data do not support gravity as a meaningful driver of human ageing.
Populations living at high altitudes, where gravitational force is slightly lower, do not show slower ageing patterns compared with low-altitude populations.
Additionally, astronauts living in microgravity environments often return with bone loss, muscle wasting, and vascular issues—indicating that reduced gravity can have harmful effects rather than being protective.[1]
Goyal also cited bats, which hang upside down and live relatively long lives, as indirect support. However, evolutionary biologists argue that bat longevity is more accurately explained by efficient DNA repair, metabolic adaptations, and unique immune features, rather than their inverted posture.[2]
Neurologists interviewed across various media outlets emphasized that known contributors to brain ageing include genetics, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial decline, oxidative stress, and neurodegenerative diseases.
At present, no peer-reviewed evidence links gravitational load to neuronal degeneration in humans.
Goyal has stated that his team intends to collaborate with researchers to formally test the hypothesis. He also advised individuals to consult healthcare professionals before attempting inversion practices.
While the discussion has encouraged public interest in brain health, experts maintain that ageing is influenced by well-established biological mechanisms, and any new theory must undergo thorough scientific evaluation before it can be considered valid.
References:
1. van Rijthoven S, van Loon JJWA. Aging and Altered Gravity: A Cellular Perspective. FASEB J. 2025 Jul 15;39(13):e70777. doi: 10.1096/fj.202402989R. PMID: 40577073; PMCID: PMC12204310.
2. Lagunas-Rangel FA. Why do bats live so long?-Possible molecular mechanisms. Biogerontology. 2020 Feb;21(1):1-11. doi: 10.1007/s10522-019-09840-3. Epub 2019 Oct 10. PMID: 31602545.
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