Progressive Blood Storage for Anti-Aging: A Feasibility Study

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The idea of using blood transfusions for rejuvenation has fascinated scientists and billionaires alike, leading to real-world experiments by high-profile individuals in Silicon Valley and beyond. Some have explored transfusions from younger donors, while others have invested heavily in longevity research to find ways to halt or reverse aging. While these attempts remain largely speculative, they provide a glimpse into the future of anti-aging science.

Bryan Johnson’s Multigenerational Plasma Exchange

Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, known for spending millions annually on anti-aging efforts, undertook a three-generation plasma exchange in 2023. This procedure, performed at a clinic near Dallas, Texas, involved Johnson receiving plasma from his 17-year-old son, while his 70-year-old father received Johnson’s plasma. While no clear benefits were reported for Johnson himself, his father’s biological markers showed signs of improvement. Johnson later underwent a Total Plasma Exchange (TPE) in October 2024, replacing all of his plasma with albumin to remove aging-related toxins. However, no significant rejuvenation effects have been conclusively proven.

Ambrosia’s Young Plasma Transfusion Experiments

In 2016, Ambrosia, a startup founded by Jesse Karmazin, offered young plasma transfusions to paying customers, using blood from donors aged 16-25. Over 600 participants received these treatments at a cost of $8,000 per liter. However, the company lacked scientific rigor, with no proper clinical controls. In 2019, the FDA issued a warning, stating that plasma transfusions for anti-aging had “no proven clinical benefit,” leading Ambrosia to shut down.

Peter Thiel’s Investment in Anti-Aging Blood Research

Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and a vocal advocate of longevity science, has shown strong interest in young blood transfusions as a potential anti-aging intervention. While there is no public record of him personally undergoing plasma transfusions, he has heavily invested in biotech companies working on longevity research:

Methuselah Foundation and SENS Research Foundation, both focused on radical life extension.
Unity Biotechnology, a company developing therapies to remove senescent (aging) cells.
Cryonics, where Thiel has publicly stated his intention to be frozen upon death, hoping future technology will restore his youth.

Other Tech Billionaires Experimenting with Longevity

Jeff Bezos: The former Amazon CEO has invested in Altos Labs, a biotech company exploring cellular reprogramming to extend lifespan.
Elon Musk: While not directly linked to blood transfusions, Musk’s Neuralink aims to enhance human longevity by merging brain-computer interfaces with medical science.
Peter Diamandis: The founder of the XPRIZE Foundation has undergone plasma exchange treatments, believing they may promote longevity.

Scientific and Regulatory Challenges

Despite these high-profile efforts, scientific skepticism remains. Researchers like Irina and Michael Conboy, who study aging in mice, caution that young blood transfusions are unlikely to work in humans as they do in rodents. The FDA’s warning in 2019 reinforced this skepticism, emphasizing potential immune risks, infections, and lack of proven efficacy.

Conclusion

While the idea of progressive blood storage or transfusion for longevity is compelling, real-world experiments have yet to demonstrate clear benefits. Instead, plasma exchange, senolytic drugs, and cellular reprogramming are emerging as more promising pathways. The next phase of longevity research may not rely on blood transfusions alone but on identifying and replicating the rejuvenating factors within young plasma.

Abstract

Aging is characterized by progressive cellular and molecular deterioration, influenced by systemic changes in blood composition. Studies on heterochronic parabiosis suggest that young blood has rejuvenating effects, while aging blood accelerates cellular decline. This paper explores the feasibility of progressive blood storage—collecting and preserving blood components at different life stages for reinfusion in later years—to mitigate aging-related decline. We evaluate current blood preservation technologies, potential degradation over time, and alternative regenerative approaches inspired by youthful plasma.

1. Introduction

Aging results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and systemic factors, including the accumulation of inflammatory markers and a decline in regenerative signals. The concept of rejuvenation through young blood transfusion has been supported by preclinical evidence, particularly in rodent models. However, the feasibility of storing and reinfusing one’s own young blood decades later remains unexplored.

If blood components critical for tissue repair and cellular health can be preserved effectively, periodic reinfusion in old age may provide an endogenous approach to longevity. However, challenges include the degradation of bioactive molecules over time, storage limitations, and ethical considerations.

2. The Science Behind Young Blood Rejuvenation

Studies on heterochronic parabiosis (conjoining circulatory systems of young and old mice) demonstrate that young blood can restore muscle repair, neurogenesis, and metabolic function in older animals. Identified mechanisms include:

Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11): Promotes muscle and neural rejuvenation.
Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2): Enhances cognitive function.
Oxytocin and Other Peptides: Stimulate muscle regeneration and metabolic health.
Dilution of Pro-Aging Factors: Removes inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) and senescence-associated proteins.

These findings suggest that periodic exposure to young blood components could counteract some aging effects.

3. Feasibility of Long-Term Blood Storage

Current blood storage technologies include:

Component	Storage Method	Maximum Viability
Whole Blood	Refrigeration (1-6°C)	~42 days
Whole Blood	Cryopreservation (-80°C to -196°C)	10+ years (with glycerol)
Red Blood Cells	Cryopreservation (-80°C)	10+ years
Plasma (growth factors, proteins)	Deep freezing (-65°C)	~7+ years
Platelets	Room temperature (20-24°C)	5-7 days
White Blood Cells (Stem Cells)	Liquid nitrogen (-196°C)	Decades

3.1. Degradation of Key Rejuvenating Factors

The primary concern with long-term blood storage is the degradation of bioactive molecules. Proteins and peptides, such as GDF11, degrade over time even under cryogenic conditions. Additionally, storage conditions influence oxidation, glycation, and protein aggregation, which may reduce their regenerative potential upon reinfusion.

Cryopreservation of whole blood is particularly challenging due to cell membrane damage during freezing and thawing. This suggests that rather than storing whole blood, focusing on specific blood fractions (e.g., plasma or exosome-rich components) may be a more effective strategy.

4. Progressive Blood Banking: A Conceptual Model

A progressive blood banking strategy would involve collecting and storing one’s own blood components at different life stages, ensuring a reservoir of younger biological material available for later use.

4.1. Proposed Collection Timeline

Age 20-30: Initial collection of plasma and stem cell-rich fractions.
Age 30-40: Cryopreservation of exosome-rich plasma.
Age 40-50: Periodic blood draws for plasma exchange storage.
Age 60+: Reinfusion of stored young plasma or its derivatives.

4.2. Potential Preservation Methods

Plasma Cryopreservation: Long-term storage of young plasma at ultra-low temperatures.
Stem Cell Banking: Extracting and freezing hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells from blood.
Exosome Banking: Isolating and storing extracellular vesicles (exosomes), which contain signaling molecules responsible for intercellular communication.
Fractionation & Lyophilization: Freeze-drying specific rejuvenating factors for later reconstitution.

5. Challenges and Ethical Considerations

5.1. Biological Challenges

Protein degradation and loss of biological function over time.
Risk of immunogenic reactions upon reinfusion.
Unknown long-term effects of periodic young blood exposure.

5.2. Regulatory and Ethical Issues

Current FDA regulations restrict plasma transfusions for anti-aging due to safety concerns.
Wealth disparity may lead to ethical concerns regarding access.
The risk of biological contamination or improper storage conditions affecting viability.

6. Alternatives to Long-Term Blood Storage

Given the limitations of storing whole blood, alternative approaches inspired by young blood research are emerging:

Plasma Exchange (Plasmapheresis): Removes aged plasma and replaces it with albumin-enriched solutions to mimic young blood dilution effects.
Exosome Therapy: Injecting exosomes isolated from young plasma or engineered to carry rejuvenating signals.
Senolytic & Epigenetic Reprogramming: Drugs or gene therapies targeting aging-related pathways, eliminating senescent cells, and reactivating youthful gene expression.

7. Conclusion

While the concept of progressive blood storage for anti-aging is scientifically intriguing, practical challenges—particularly bioactive molecule degradation and cryopreservation limitations—make it currently unfeasible as a long-term strategy. However, plasma-derived therapies, exosome isolation, and periodic plasmapheresis may provide a more viable alternative for extending healthspan. Future research should focus on optimizing storage conditions for key rejuvenation factors and developing bioengineering solutions to replicate young blood effects without the need for large-scale cryopreservation.

Future Directions

Investigate the viability of lyophilized (freeze-dried) plasma for long-term preservation.
Develop bioengineered synthetic young plasma that mimics key components without requiring direct blood storage.
Explore gene editing approaches to enhance the body’s natural production of youth-associated factors.