There appears to be a new trend among healthy aging enthusiasts, aging athletes, and CEOs, they are turning to plasma exchange therapy (plasmapheresis) as it has been gaining popularity as a way to possibly remove toxins from blood plasma and extend longevity.
Plasma Exchange Entering “Boutique Medicine” Arena
The plasma exchange procedure involves removing some blood, spinning it about in a centrifuge to separate plasma from blood cells, and then replacing the plasma with fresh saline that contains a blood protein called albumin. This procedure is gaining momentum among the likes of biohackers and others trying to stall or reverse aging.
This is a medical treatment that is typically used for medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases, neurological conditions, transplant complications, and blood disorders, but it is quickly becoming one of the latest wellness trends among aging athletes and wealthy CEOs who are attempting to prolong their healthspan and longevity. This treatment is not cheap, and costs can run from around $5,000 to over $10,000 at a wellness clinic.
“Longevity Bro” Approved
One of the most famous longevity enthusiasts, Bryan Johnson who lives a very strict longevity-geared routine and spends extravagant amounts of money in his quest for extended youth recently posted his personal experience with plasma exchange therapy on social media. While his lifestyle routine, called Project Blueprint, is largely unsustainable and not affordable for the majority of people, he is sharing his journey for all to see so that they see what is possible and perhaps benefit from it.
It is worth noting that Johnson did receive some backlash from medical experts for seemingly commodifying a treatment that can be crucial for people with chronic illnesses, or life-saving in emergencies, but it is not deterring him on his quest for extending youth.
“Plasma exchange can remove unnatural pollutants which our body including liver, kidney and immune system is not capable to remove including microplastics, and other such POPs (persistent organic pollutants),” said Johnson. “Age plasma proteins including albumin, lipoproteins, and cytokines also decline in quality due to various types of damage including the reaction with sugars (glycosylation).“
“While the body is capable of making new proteins, the old damaged proteins lurking in the plasma inhibit efficient replacement, and removing them accelerates the replacement with newly made “youthful proteins,” he continued, explaining that,” Our detoxification systems take care of survival needs, waste products that need continuous removal for life to continue, but they are not as adept in dealing with age-related changes.”
“Oil Change” For Humans
Former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman is also a proponent of plasma exchange therapy, and he wrote about his treatment in NYC with Dr. Jonathan Kuo on social media calling it “essentially a human oil change.”
According to Dr. Kuo, who specializes in regenerative medicine, the procedure removes blood toxins, some of which relate to aging and tend to accumulate with age. Kue offers this treatment as part of the cutting-edge anti-aging therapies at his clinic, explaining in an interview, “We call it an oil change because it is kind of refreshing and revitalizing your circulation and getting rid of all of the dirty stuff that’s circulating, basically.”
Evidence-Based Medicine
In the short term, plasma exchange may help to improve certain measures of aging according to animal studies, and some research has found similar potential anti-aging benefits in very small exploratory studies in humans at the University of California-Berkeley. One study also showed that plasma exchange improved cognition in aged mice.
Additionally, a recent UCLA study also showed a reversal of biological aging in multiple vital organs as well as reductions in levels of oxidative stress and inflammation which are two of the hallmarks of aging.
It is thought that there is no major risk of serious side effects with plasma exchange therapy, but infection can occur, and it is not clear if this treatment is beneficial for most healthy people. However, the procedure is used to help those with chronic conditions like autoimmune disorders, serious circumstances and extreme cases such as organ failure and sepsis, and specific conditions like Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
According to Dr. Brain Adkins, who is a professor of pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center “It’s not supposed to be boutique medicine; it’s supposed to be evidence-based medicine.”
Reasons To Forgo Plasma Exchange
- There seems to be a common misconception that plasma exchange completely replaces your plasma. But this is not true due to the fact that some amount needs to continue circulating in your body while you’re alive, like changing your oil while the car is running.
- Those who aren’t experiencing organ failure or other life-threatening medical conditions naturally remove toxins naturally via the liver and kidneys.
- The procedure is also unlikely to help remove environmental contaminants such as microplastics.
- Removing plasma can lower a person’s lipid levels, including “bad” cholesterol but this is only temporary because plasma regenerates quickly.
According to Adkins, the increasing interest is part of an enduring fascination with cleansing toxins from our body that dates back to ancient times and antique procedures such as bloodletting. But Adkins suggests that there are plenty of other science-based longevity strategies for those looking to enhance their health and lifespan such as getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet, and engaging in regular exercise.
“There are a lot of really meaningful things you can do to improve your health. Maybe people’s efforts might be better served exploring some of those inventions,” said Adkins.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_BR-5BvCaS
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33191466
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33191466
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9398900
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jca.22043
Plasmapheresis (Plasma Exchange): Therapy, Procedure & What It Is
