Anti-ageing enthusiast and millionaire entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has once again sparked conversation with his latest experiment — this time involving a complete plasma exchange.
In a recent Instagram post, the US-based millionaire revealed, “I removed all the plasma from my body, and the doctor said it’s the cleanest she’s ever seen.” According to Johnson, the procedure involved extracting all his blood, separating the plasma, and replacing it with a mixture of “5 per cent albumin and IVIG.”
This latest move, which Johnson referred to as a version 2.0 of an earlier experiment where he received plasma from his son, is part of his ongoing blueprint to slow ageing. “Everything I do is an attempt to discover what slows down my speed of ageing and reverses my ageing damage,” he wrote. “We follow the science and data, no matter how outlandish the therapies may seem.”
In a follow-up video, Johnson said the aim was to “remove bad stuff from the body, replace it with very clean stuff,” adding that “your body has the natural ability to remove waste products, but sometimes it can’t deal with the load of our modern world or certain kinds of toxins.”
He added, “So, what happens when you remove all the plasma from your body? Nothing, really. I did the entire thing I felt the same, went to bed, slept the same. So for me it was pretty inconsequential. For those suffering from health challenges, they can feel a significant boost of energy and alertness. So how might this affect my logevity? Well, like all things blueprint we are measuring dozens of biomarkers and we will see a before and after and then make an assessment of what it’s doing for me.”
What happens to the body when all the plasma is removed and replaced with a solution like albumin and IVIG?
Dr Jagadish Hiremath, public health intellectual, tells indianexpress.com, “Plasma exchange, or plasmapheresis, is a procedure where the liquid portion of the blood, plasma, is removed and replaced with substitutes like albumin, saline, or IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin). Physiologically, this affects how proteins, antibodies, and clotting factors function in the body. Plasma plays a crucial role in nutrient transport, immune defense, and maintaining fluid balance.”
In a clinical setting, he adds that plasma exchange is reserved for specific medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis), where removing harmful antibodies is essential. These are closely monitored procedures done under stringent protocols.
For a healthy individual, Dr Hiremath explains that completely removing and replacing all plasma “is neither standard nor considered medically safe.” The risks, especially when performed frequently, include clotting abnormalities, electrolyte imbalances, infections, and cardiovascular stress. This is not a routine or advisable intervention for enhancing wellness or longevity without a clearly defined medical need.
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Is there any evidence supporting that such a therapy can improve overall health, longevity, and boost energy levels?
Currently, Dr Hiremath notes, there is no robust scientific evidence supporting the claim that plasma exchange enhances longevity or energy levels in otherwise healthy individuals. “While the procedure may transiently alter certain biomarkers, there is a lack of peer-reviewed, long-term studies demonstrating any substantial or sustained benefit in lifespan or vitality through this method.”
The idea of removing ‘toxins’ is also medically vague, he stresses. “The body already has well-developed mechanisms, primarily the liver and kidneys, to detoxify harmful substances. Plasma exchange may temporarily remove certain circulating proteins or antibodies, but to suggest it’s a catch-all for “bad stuff” oversimplifies how our physiology works.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
