Transfusion of Young Blood Might Slow Aging
A long series of scientific studies dating back to the 1950s indicate that old mice injected with the plasma portion of blood from young mice experienced significant cognitive and physiological improvements. The older mice have improved memory and ability to learn and aging indicators improved across almost every major organ system. Even more shocking, the treatment appears to be almost permanent, in the sense that the aging process seems to reset.
A variety of human trials are underway in China, South Korea, and the United States. It is rumored that a number of wealthy individuals in silicon valley have begun transfusing plasma from young donors. The effects of plasma transfusion have been known since the 1950s but the study of the effects has been considered fringe. Ultimately pharmaceutical companies stand to make very little money pursuing simple and inexpensive transfusion based therapies and would rather sell billions of dollars of drugs to treat the symptoms of aging rather than to provide a plasma-based cure.
Why this news is important
A simple plasma transfusion could reduce the prevalence of age related disease, saving trillions of dollars globally.
Links and photo credit:
Jocelyn Kaiser, Science, "Antiaging trial using young blood stirs concerns," August 5, 2016.
Image of plasma from young donors via Science, August 1, 2016.
