Young plasma transfusion is a procedure infusing the liquid part of blood from young donors into older adults, marketed for longevity. Human trials are small, mostly in people with dementia or Parkinson’s disease, and measured laboratory markers rather than how anyone felt or functioned. The clearest signals came from removing plasma rather than adding young donor plasma. Harms are well characterized, and the procedure is expensive, invasive and uninsured. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Serum immunoglobulin A | Above 70 mg/dL | Identifies deficiency that drives anaphylaxis |
| Immunoglobulin G | 800–1,400 mg/dL | Detects cumulative antibody depletion from exchange |
| Fibrinogen | 200–350 mg/dL | Predicts post-exchange bleeding risk |
| Ionized calcium | 1.15–1.30 mmol/L | Detects citrate-induced hypocalcemia during apheresis |
| Serum albumin | 4.2–5.0 g/dL | Reflects protein reserve and volume tolerance |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein | Below 0.5 mg/L | Baseline inflammation predicted stronger response |
| Interleukin-6 | Below 1.5 pg/mL | Tracks the inflammatory signaling the intervention targets |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate | Above 90 mL/min/1.73 m² | Determines tolerance of infused volume |
| Complete blood count with platelets | Platelets above 200 ×10⁹/L; hemoglobin 13.5–15.0 g/dL (men), 12.5–14.0 g/dL (women) | Monitors procedural depletion and monocyte profile |
| Epigenetic age (DNA methylation clock) | No established target exists; track change from the individual’s own baseline | The endpoint on which benefit claims rest |
| Viral serology (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C) | Negative | Establishes pre-exposure status for attribution |
Cadence: Fibrinogen, immunoglobulin G and calcium immediately before every full-volume exchange; metabolic panel and blood count at 4 weeks, then at 3 months and every 6 months thereafter; viral serology at 3 and 6 months after the final exposure