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| {{Redirect|Young blood|other uses|Youngblood (disambiguation){{!}}Youngblood}} | | {{Short description|A medical procedure involving the transfusion of blood from a young donor to an older recipient.}} |
| '''Young blood transfusion''' refers to [[blood transfusion|transfusing blood]] specifically from a young person into an older one with the intention of creating a medicinal benefit.<ref name="sbm">{{cite news|url=https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/parabiosis-the-next-snakeoil/|title=Parabiosis – The Next Snakeoil|last1=Novella|first1=Steven|authorlink=Steven Novella|date=3 August 2016|work=Science-Based Medicine}}</ref> The scientific community currently views the practice as essentially [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]], with comparisons to [[snake oil]].<ref name=sbm/><ref name="sciam">{{cite web|last1=Robbins|first1=Rebecca|title=Young-Blood Transfusions Are on the Menu at Society Gala|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/young-blood-transfusions-are-on-the-menu-at-society-gala/|website=Scientific American|accessdate=26 May 2018|language=en|date=March 2, 2018}}</ref><ref name=FDA2019/> There are also concerns of harm.<ref name=FDA2019/>
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| == Research ==
| | '''Young blood transfusion''' is a medical procedure that involves the transfusion of blood from a young donor into an older recipient. This practice is based on the hypothesis that certain factors present in young blood may have rejuvenating effects on the body and could potentially reverse the effects of aging. |
| Experiments at [[Stanford University]] on pairs of old and young rodents placed into [[parabiosis]] suggest that the circulation of blood from young mice seems to invigorate older mice.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Scudellari |first1=Megan |title=Ageing research: Blood to blood |journal=Nature |volume=517 |issue=7535 |pages=426–429 |publisher=Springer Nature |ref=nature|doi=10.1038/517426a |pmid=25612035 |year=2015 |bibcode=2015Natur.517..426S }}</ref> Parabiosis experiments are difficult to generalize, as the circulatory systems of the mice are fully joined and it is unclear whether the benefits come from the sharing of blood or the older mouse's access to the younger mouse's organs.<ref name="sbm"/> A study conducted at [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]] found that blood from older mice hurt younger mice, while older mice were not benefited by the blood of younger mice.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602897/blood-from-old-mice-makes-young-mice-decrepit/|title=Old blood is bad for young mice—like, really bad|last=Regalado|first=Antonio|work=MIT Technology Review|access-date=2018-06-10|language=en}}</ref>
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| In experiments like this, researchers found that some of these mice died quickly (11 out of 69 in one experiment) for reasons the scientists could not explain, but described as possibly some form of rejection.<ref name="sbm" /> [[Amy Wagers]], a researcher who coauthored several mouse studies on young blood transfusion, has said that her papers do not provide a scientific basis for some of the existing human trials.<ref name="sciam"/>
| | ==Background== |
| | The concept of young blood transfusion is rooted in the idea that [[aging]] is associated with changes in the composition of blood, including the decline of certain [[proteins]] and [[hormones]] that are abundant in youth. Researchers have hypothesized that replenishing these factors through transfusion could help mitigate age-related decline. |
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| Evidence from two large studies in 2017 showed that the transfusion of blood from younger donors to older people led to outcomes that were either no different from, or led to worse outcomes than, blood from older donors.<ref name="sbm" /><ref name="Garraud20172">{{cite journal|last1=Garraud|first1=O|date=August 2017|title=Younger blood from older donors: Admitting ignorance and seeking stronger data and clinical trials?|journal=Transfusion and Apheresis Science |volume=56|issue=4|pages=635–636|doi=10.1016/j.transci.2017.07.002|pmid=28780993}}</ref> Research on blood transfusion outcomes has been complicated by the lack of careful characterization of the transfusion products that have been used in clinical trials; studies had focused on how storage methods and duration might affect blood, but not on the differences among lots of blood themselves.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Ning|first1=S|last2=Heddle|first2=NM|last3=Acker|first3=JP|date=January 2018|title=Exploring donor and product factors and their impact on red cell post-transfusion outcomes.|journal=Transfusion Medicine Reviews|volume=32|issue=1|pages=28–35|doi=10.1016/j.tmrv.2017.07.006|pmid=28988603}}</ref>
| | ==Scientific Basis== |
| | Research into young blood transfusion has been inspired by studies in [[mice]] that demonstrated rejuvenating effects when young blood was introduced into older animals. These studies suggested improvements in [[cognitive function]], [[muscle strength]], and [[tissue repair]]. The mechanism is thought to involve [[parabiosis]], a process where the circulatory systems of two animals are joined, allowing for the exchange of blood and its components. |
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| ==Commercial development== | | ==Potential Benefits== |
| In February 2019 the FDA warned about companies offering young blood transfusions stating: "simply put, we’re concerned that some patients are being preyed upon by unscrupulous actors touting treatments of plasma from young donors as cures and remedies. Such treatments have no proven clinical benefits for the uses for which these clinics are advertising them and are potentially harmful. There are reports of bad actors charging thousands of dollars for infusions that are unproven and not guided by evidence from adequate and well-controlled trials. The promotion of plasma for these unproven purposes could also discourage patients suffering from serious or intractable illnesses from receiving safe and effective treatments that may be available to them."<ref name=FDA2019>{{cite web |title=Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., and Director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., cautioning consumers against receiving young donor plasma infusions that are promoted as unproven treatment for varying conditions |url=https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm631568.htm |website=FDA |accessdate=20 February 2019 |date=19 February 2019}}</ref><ref name=ars/>
| | Proponents of young blood transfusion suggest that it may offer several potential benefits, including: |
| | * Improved [[cognitive function]] and memory |
| | * Enhanced [[muscle regeneration]] and strength |
| | * Better [[wound healing]] and tissue repair |
| | * Possible reduction in the risk of age-related diseases such as [[Alzheimer's disease]] |
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| === Ambrosia === | | ==Ethical and Safety Concerns== |
| A startup company, Ambrosia, has been selling "young blood transfusions" for $8,000 since 2017 under the guise of running a [[clinical trial]], to see if such transfusions lead to changes in the blood of recipients.<ref name="sbm" /><ref name="Trends20173">{{cite journal|last1=de Magalhães|first1=JP|last2=Stevens|first2=M|last3=Thornton|first3=D|date=November 2017|title=The Business of Anti-Aging Science.|journal=Trends in Biotechnology|volume=35|issue=11|pages=1062–1073|doi=10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.07.004|pmid=28778607}} {{open access}}</ref> As of August 2017, they had 600 people join.<ref name="Haynes 2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/shortcuts/2017/aug/21/ambrosia-the-startup-harvesting-the-blood-of-the-young|title=Ambrosia: the startup harvesting the blood of the young|last1=Haynes|first1=Gavin|date=21 August 2017|work=The Guardian|accessdate=23 May 2018|language=en}}</ref> The clinical trial has no [[Scientific control|control arm]] and so is neither randomized nor blind.<ref name="Haynes 2017" /> The company was started by Jesse Karmazin, a medical school graduate without a license to practice medicine.<ref name="Max20173">{{cite web|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603242/questionable-young-blood-transfusions-offered-in-us-as-anti-aging-remedy/|title=This startup takes cash from aging adults in exchange for young people's blood|last1=Maxmen|first1=Amy|website=MIT Technology Review|language=en|accessdate=26 May 2018}}</ref> David Wright is the licensed doctor overseeing the clinical trial; in his practice he administers intravenous treatments of vitamins and antibiotics for [[Fringe medicine|nontraditional purposes]] and was disciplined by the California Medical Board for the latter in 2015. Jonathan Kimmelman, a bioethicist from McGill University, suggests that Ambrosia is running this as a trial as they would be unable to get FDA approval to sell this treatment otherwise.<ref name="Max20173" />
| | The practice of young blood transfusion raises several ethical and safety concerns. Critics argue that the procedure lacks sufficient scientific evidence to support its efficacy and safety in humans. There are also concerns about the potential for [[exploitation]] of young donors and the risk of [[transfusion reactions]] and [[infections]]. |
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| On February 19, 2019, Ambrosia announced it stopped testing the treatment, responding to concerns from the Foods and Drugs Administration.<ref name=ars>{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/blood-of-the-young-wont-spare-rich-old-people-from-sadness-and-death-fda-says/|title=Blood of the young won't spare rich old people from sadness and death, FDA says|last=Mole|first=Beth|date=February 19, 2019|work=Ars Technica|access-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220194854/https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/blood-of-the-young-wont-spare-rich-old-people-from-sadness-and-death-fda-says/|archive-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref>
| | ==Current Research== |
| | Ongoing research is focused on identifying the specific factors in young blood that may contribute to its purported rejuvenating effects. Scientists are investigating [[growth factors]], [[cytokines]], and other [[biomolecules]] that could be responsible for the observed benefits in animal studies. |
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| === Alkahest === | | ==Regulatory Status== |
| Another company, Alkahest, was founded based on the Stanford rodent studies. As of 2017 it is collaborating with European pharmaceutical company [[Grifols]] to create a [[blood plasma]]-based experimental [[Biopharmaceutical#Extracted from living systems|biologic]] drug which they propose to test on people with [[Alzheimer's]].<ref name="Trends20173"/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Drew|first1=L|title=Neuroscience: The power of plasma.|journal=Nature|date=27 September 2017|volume=549|issue=7673|pages=S26–S27|doi=10.1038/549S26a|pmid=28953857|bibcode=2017Natur.549S..26D}}</ref>
| | As of now, young blood transfusion is not approved by major health regulatory agencies such as the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) for anti-aging purposes. Clinical trials are necessary to establish its safety and efficacy in humans. |
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| === Young Blood Institute === | | ==Related pages== |
| As of 2018 another organization, the Young Blood Institute, promotes young blood transfusion. Like Ambrosia's, its trial had no control and charged the participants for entry, in this case $285,000 per person.<ref name="sciam" />
| | * [[Aging]] |
| | * [[Blood transfusion]] |
| | * [[Parabiosis]] |
| | * [[Regenerative medicine]] |
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| Dipnarine Maharaj was running the trial; he has offered both traditional treatments and nontraditional treatments such as stem cell banking in the past.<ref name="sciam" /> Additionally, he has ties to the [[Hippocrates Health Institute]], an organization promoting unproven alternative medicine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/brian-clement-and-the-hippocrates-health-institute-finally-under-the-spotlight/|title=The Hippocrates Health Institute: Cancer quackery finally under the spotlight, but will it matter?|date=2015-02-23|work=Science-Based Medicine|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en-US}}</ref> The Young Blood Institute's trial has been promoted by Bill Faloon,<ref name="sciam" /> who founded the [[Life Extension Foundation]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/south-florida-church-pursues-eternal-life-through-cryonics-inflaming-critics-and-the-irs-7608632|title=South Florida Church Pursues Eternal Life Through Cryonics, Inflaming Critics and the IRS|last=Funcheon|first=Deirdra|date=2015-05-12|work=Miami New Times|access-date=2018-06-10}}</ref> which was raided by the [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] In 1987 for illegally importing medicine in a later-dropped case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/theyre-gonna-live-forever-6363863|title=They're Gonna Live Forever|last=Almond|first=Steven|date=1994-06-08|work=Miami New Times|access-date=2018-06-09}}</ref>
| | [[Category:Transfusion medicine]] |
| | | [[Category:Gerontology]] |
| ==References==
| | [[Category:Experimental medical treatments]] |
| {{reflist}}
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| ==Further reading==
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| *{{cite news
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| |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fountain-of-youth-young-blood-infusions-ldquo-rejuvenate-rdquo-old-mice/
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| |title=Fountain of Youth? Young Blood Infusions "Rejuvenate" Old Mice
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| |date=21 April 2017
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| |surname=Makin
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| |first=Simon
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| |work=[[Scientific American]]
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| |accessdate=5 May 2018
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| }}
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| [[Category:Alternative medicine]] | |
| [[Category:Blood]] | |
| [[Category:Pseudoscience]] | |
| {{stb}}
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| __NOINDEX__
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A medical procedure involving the transfusion of blood from a young donor to an older recipient.
Young blood transfusion is a medical procedure that involves the transfusion of blood from a young donor into an older recipient. This practice is based on the hypothesis that certain factors present in young blood may have rejuvenating effects on the body and could potentially reverse the effects of aging.
Background[edit]
The concept of young blood transfusion is rooted in the idea that aging is associated with changes in the composition of blood, including the decline of certain proteins and hormones that are abundant in youth. Researchers have hypothesized that replenishing these factors through transfusion could help mitigate age-related decline.
Scientific Basis[edit]
Research into young blood transfusion has been inspired by studies in mice that demonstrated rejuvenating effects when young blood was introduced into older animals. These studies suggested improvements in cognitive function, muscle strength, and tissue repair. The mechanism is thought to involve parabiosis, a process where the circulatory systems of two animals are joined, allowing for the exchange of blood and its components.
Potential Benefits[edit]
Proponents of young blood transfusion suggest that it may offer several potential benefits, including:
Ethical and Safety Concerns[edit]
The practice of young blood transfusion raises several ethical and safety concerns. Critics argue that the procedure lacks sufficient scientific evidence to support its efficacy and safety in humans. There are also concerns about the potential for exploitation of young donors and the risk of transfusion reactions and infections.
Current Research[edit]
Ongoing research is focused on identifying the specific factors in young blood that may contribute to its purported rejuvenating effects. Scientists are investigating growth factors, cytokines, and other biomolecules that could be responsible for the observed benefits in animal studies.
Regulatory Status[edit]
As of now, young blood transfusion is not approved by major health regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for anti-aging purposes. Clinical trials are necessary to establish its safety and efficacy in humans.
Related pages[edit]
