Highlights

  • The procedure involves removing blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to separate plasma from blood cells, and replacing the plasma with fresh saline containing albumin—a blood protein.
  • Plasma exchange therapy is gaining momentum as a wellness trend among aging sports stars and CEOs attempting to prolong their years without debilitating disease (a concept known as healthspan).

A medical treatment called plasma exchange therapy, used medically for conditions like autoimmune diseases and blood disorders, is one of the latest fads among athletes, CEOs, and longevity enthusiasts. For example, Bryan Johnson, a CEO and entrepreneur who adheres to a strict longevity-geared routine, recently posted his experience with plasma exchange therapy on X.

“[Total plasma exchange] removes all of my body’s plasma and replaces it with Albumin. The therapy objectives are to remove toxins from my body. The evidence is emergent,” says Bryan Johnson on X.

Plasma Exchange Therapy Entails Replacing Blood Plasma with Fresh Saline

For some background, the procedure entails removing small amounts of blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate blood plasma from blood cells. The separated plasma then gets replaced with fresh saline containing albumin, a protein contained in plasma. Nonetheless, undergoing this technique may be cost-prohibitive for most—costing from $5,000 to $10,000 per treatment at a wellness clinic.

XPrize founder Peter Diamandis and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman have also tried it. Aikman has called it “essentially a human oil change.”

According to Dr. Jonathan Kuo, a physician who specializes in regenerative medicine who also performed Troy Aikman’s plasma exchange, the technique removes blood toxins, some that relate to aging, which accumulate over time. Dr. Kuo offers plasma exchange therapy along with a suite of other aging intervention therapies at his clinic.

“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,” he told Business Insider.

Studies Behind Plasma Exchange for the Removal of Aging Factors

As for what the science says about plasma exchange therapy, one study shows that the procedure improves cognition in aged mice. As for human trials, a study that looked at 10 blood protein markers of aging showed an association between plasma exchange and reversed biological age—a measurement of age based on how well organs and tissues function. It is possible that plasma exchange filters out certain blood factors, such as unidentified proteins that contribute to aging, to reverse biological age in older individuals.

No major risk of serious side effects have been associated with plasma exchange therapy, although infection can occur. All the same, it remains unclear whether the procedure actually works against signs of aging in healthy people, according to Dr. Brian Adkins, a pathology professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Along those lines, Dr. Adkins performs plasma exchange frequently to help patients with chronic conditions like autoimmune disorders. He also relayed that the technique is used in serious circumstances, such as organ failure or sepsis—when the immune system has an extreme response to an infection or injury.

Influencers Like Bryan Johnson Face Backlash from Physicians for Promoting ‘Boutique Medicine’

Bryan Johnson has received some backlash from medical experts via X for presenting plasma exchange as a procedure for longevity-seeking individuals. Some experts think that the technique deserves more serious consideration, especially since it is crucial for people with chronic illnesses.

“It’s not supposed to be boutique medicine; it’s supposed to be evidence-based medicine,” says Dr. Adkins.

Also, Bryan Johnson’s conception of total plasma exchange, where all of his blood plasma is renewed, appears to be mistaken. Some plasma needs to continue circulating in the body to keep you alive, which is why small quantities of blood are taken for plasma exchange. The procedure is like changing oil in a car while it is still running. For this reason, replacing all plasma in blood from this technique is virtually impossible.

While studies continue to evaluate plasma exchange therapy’s potential effects against aging, the debate will continue among experts of whether undergoing the procedure is worthwhile for healthy older adults. In the meantime, if you do not want to spend $5,000 to $10,000 for a round of this controversial technique, you can always exercise regularly, eat a nutritious diet, and get plenty of sleep in an attempt to counteract aging. Not only that but for people who are not experiencing organ failure, functional kidneys and the liver naturally remove toxins from blood plasma.

“There are a lot of really meaningful things you can do to improve your health,” says Dr. Adkins. “Maybe people’s efforts might be better served exploring some of those interventions.”