Bryan Johnson, a notable American tech entrepreneur with a passion for reversing aging, is making headlines again with his latest anti-aging experiment, Total Plasma Exchange (TPE), a revolutionary procedure where his plasma was replaced with albumin, a protein-rich substitute. Johnson, 47, has gained notoriety for his unconventional and costly attempts to defy aging, which have included strict diets and state-of-the-art medical treatments.
Bryan Johnson is the founder and CEO of Kernal, a company that creates devices to monitor and record brain activity. He is also the founder of OS Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage science and technology companies.
Bryan Johnson recently disclosed that he underwent Total Plasma Exchange (TPE). Following the treatment, Johnson shared a remarkable endorsement from the operator, who has nine years of experience in performing TPE.
“His plasma is the cleanest he’s ever seen. By far. He couldn’t get over it. When we finished, he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away. He was imagining all the good that it could do in the world.” said the operator
Bryan Johnson took to social media to share his experience with Total Plasma Exchange, a treatment aimed at eliminating toxins from his body. While acknowledging that research on its benefits is ongoing, Johnson noted that the procedure has been utilized in medical contexts to address autoimmune disorders and blood-related issues. As part of his rigorous anti-aging routine, Johnson is set to undergo a total of six TPE treatments.
All about Total Plasma Exchange(TPE)
According to Dr. Pawan Kumar Singh, a renowned expert in Haemato-Oncology and BMT, Total Plasma Exchange (TPE) is a procedure where a patient’s plasma is removed and replaced with albumin or fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Plasma, which makes up the liquid component of blood, plays a vital role in transporting essential nutrients, hormones, and proteins, while also carrying waste products. The TPE process involves drawing blood from the patient, separating and discarding the plasma, and then reinfusing the remaining blood cells mixed with the replacement fluid back into the body.
TPE has established therapeutic applications in specific medical conditions, but its use in anti-aging is still experimental. According to Dr. Singh, “TPE is used to remove harmful substances such as abnormal proteins or antibodies from the bloodstream, and is typically applied in conditions like autoimmune disorders, neurological diseases, and complications from organ or bone marrow transplants.” However, its effectiveness in reversing aging remains unproven and requires further research.
Effect of removing Plasma on Ageing
Bryan Johnson’s claims about the anti-aging benefits of TPE have generated significant interest, but experts like Dr. Mohit Chowdhry, Senior Consultant and Head of Transfusion Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, are urging caution.
“The idea that TPE might reverse aging is still a budding theoretical concept.” He adds, “While some proponents suggest that removing plasma could rejuvenate cellular function by reducing harmful factors associated with aging, such as inflammatory cytokines, there is a paucity of scientific literature to support this.” says Dr. Mohit
The use of TPE for non-medical purposes, such as reversing aging, raises significant ethical and health concerns. Dr. Singh highlights that while TPE is typically safe under medical supervision for legitimate conditions, it still carries risks, including infections, allergic reactions to replacement fluids, and electrolyte imbalances. “Patients must be thoroughly evaluated and understand the risks before proceeding with TPE,” he emphasizes. Notably, the long-term health consequences of repeated TPE treatments, as undertaken by Bryan Johnson, remain understudied, particularly in healthy individuals seeking to delay aging, making informed decision-making crucial.
Bryan Johnson’s relentless pursuit of youth has led him to embrace unconventional and expensive methods, spending approximately $2 million yearly on a rigorous regimen. This includes daily exercise, a vegan diet, and an astonishing 100 supplements daily. Johnson’s earlier experiments, such as exchanging blood with his teenage son, dubbed the “blood boy,” generated significant attention last year but yielded no scientifically proven benefits. Although his recent plasma swap has yielded anecdotal results, including the operator’s remark that his plasma was the “cleanest” seen, the broader medical community remains skeptical about Johnson’s unorthodox approaches, citing a lack of verifiable evidence.
