
A 47-year-old anti-ageing enthusiast and US millionaire, Bryan Johnson has captured public interest once again by offering a free bag of his own plasma and ceased using his son's blood for plasma therapy in his age-reversal endeavors. Known for his controversial longevity trials, he has now opted for a new procedure called total plasma exchange.
Previously, Johnson had generated buzz on social media for recruiting his 17-year-old son, Talmage, and his 70-year-old father, Richard, to join in the world’s first multigenerational plasma exchange. In this complex process, a liter of teenager’s blood is drawn and separated into plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Next, Johnson then infuses himself with the youthful plasma. However, in favour of a more advanced technique, he has now stopped this method.
Plasma is the liquid part of your blood, carrying blood cells and other substances all over your body. Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) involves passing a patient's blood through an apheresis machine, removing filtered plasma and reinfusing red blood cells and replacement fluids (e.g., plasma or albumin) back into the patient [1].
Purpose of TPE?
To remove an antibody, toxin or abnormal protein that is causing or triggering the clinical symptoms.
To replace a normal factor or substance that may be missing or deficient in the patient’s plasma [1].
Therapeutic Indications:
Neurological conditions: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Non-neurologic conditions: Myasthenia Gravis, hyperviscosity syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, haemolytic uremic syndrome, idiopathic thrombocytopenia and in renal, rheumatologic diseases [1].
Johnson detailed his new approach in his recent post on X, with a picture of him holding a bag of plasma
Supporting his new approach he attached a research paper to his post detailing about the benefit of TPE in reversing age and treating age-related diseases [2].
His approaches continue to stimulate controversy regarding the ethical and scientific implications of extreme age reversal therapy.
References:
Kang, J. W., and S. H. Kim. "The Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin on Bone Regeneration in Dentistry." Journal of Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 43, no. 6 (2017): 363–368. https://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2017.43.6.363.
Zhang, Y., et al. "Advances in the Application of Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Systematic Review." Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 125, no. 1 (2024): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jormas.2023.09.001.
Campbell, Amara. "'Who Wants My Plasma?': Millionaire Bryan Johnson’s Bizarre Offer Sparks Online Debate." Associates Times, January 30, 2025. https://associatestimes.com/us-canada/who-wants-my-plasma-millionaire-bryan-johnsons-bizarre-offer-sparks-online-debate.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Disha Merlyn Mathias/MSM)