Can young blood slow down the aging process?
A research team led by Arne Søraas at Oslo University Hospital is competing for more than one billion NOK in an international XPRIZE contest to demonstrate that treatment with young blood plasma can slow the aging processes. The project’s primary aim is to investigate whether plasma from young donors can stabilize or reduce cognitive decline in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. The idea may sound like science fiction, but it builds on longstanding animal experiments in which socalled parabiosis showed that blood from young animals can produce measurable improvements in the brain function of older animals.
Positive results from animal studies
The hypothesis arises from experiments where blood or plasma from young animals influences inflammatory and regenerative mechanisms in older ones, and in some studies has led to better cognitive performance and reduced markers of aging. Several research groups in Norway, including a team at NTNU running the “ExPlas” study, are now conducting randomized trials to test the efficacy and safety of plasma transfusions in humans. ExPlas includes different groups in which patients receive treated plasma, standard plasma, or a placebo (saline) to determine both tolerability and potential health benefits.
Large controlled studies are lacking
However, the field is still in its infancy. The number of researchers and clinical trials is small compared with other medical disciplines, and large, controlled studies proving sustained health effects in humans are currently lacking. Researchers stress that although animal studies have produced promising results, it is far from certain that the same effects will apply to humans. In addition, plasma transfusion is not without risk; blood transfusions can cause severe allergic reactions and other complications.
Critical of commercial claims
At the same time, commercial actors have begun offering “young blood” or plasma treatments purported to combat aging, which researchers warn against. Without solid clinical evidence, such offers may be ineffective and potentially harmful. Nevertheless, some in the field believe the XPRIZE competition could have a positive impact by channeling funding and attention to aging research, which otherwise receives relatively little support compared with diseases like cancer.
Beneficial to donate blood
Finally, the researchers point out that there are safe, established options available: donating blood or plasma as a healthy donor is generally safe and gives donors a small “mini health check” while helping others. Some studies suggest regular donors may live longer, but causality is not established. For those intrigued by aging and plasma research, it is therefore important to follow controlled clinical trials closely and remain critical of commercial claims until more robust evidence is available.
The team was interviewed by Aftenposten, read the full article below (in Norwegian)
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