Tech mogul Bryan Johnson, known for anti-ageing experiments, replaces all the plasma in his body: ‘This time around there’s no blood boy involved’

Johnson shared his experience on social media, explaining that the treatment’s objective was to remove toxins from his body. He noted that the evidence supporting the procedure’s benefits is still emerging, but it has been used in medical settings to treat autoimmune disorders and other blood-related issues. Johnson is scheduled to undergo six of these treatments in total as part of his latest anti-ageing regimen.

 

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A post shared by Bryan Johnson (@bryanjohnson_) 

What is Total Plasma Exchange (TPE)?

According to Dr Pawan Kumar Singh, Group Director of Haemato-Oncology and BMT at Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida Extension, TPE involves removing the plasma from a patient’s blood and replacing it with albumin or fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Plasma, the liquid component of blood, carries vital nutrients, hormones, and proteins, and also contains waste products. During TPE, blood is drawn from the patient, the plasma is separated and discarded, and the remaining blood cells are mixed with the replacement fluid before being returned to the body.

Dr Singh explains, “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.” While it has proven therapeutic benefits in these areas, TPE for anti-ageing purposes remains experimental and untested.

Can removing plasma affect ageing?

Johnson’s claims about the anti-ageing potential of TPE have piqued curiosity. Still, Dr Mohit Chowdhry, Senior Consultant & Head of Transfusion Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, remains cautious. “The idea that TPE might reverse aging is still a budding theoretical concept,” Dr Chowdhry notes. “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.”

 

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The ethical and health implications of undergoing TPE for non-medical purposes, such as age reversal, raise important questions. Dr Singh points out that while TPE is generally considered safe when performed under medical supervision for legitimate conditions, there are risks involved, including infections, allergic reactions to replacement fluids, and electrolyte imbalances. “Patients must be thoroughly evaluated and understand the risks before proceeding with TPE,” he says. Repeated TPE treatments, like those Johnson is undertaking, have not been studied extensively for long-term health consequences, particularly in healthy individuals seeking to delay ageing.

Bryan Johnson is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of science in his quest for youth. His rigorous lifestyle, which reportedly costs him around $2 million annually, includes daily exercise, a vegan diet, and over 100 supplements daily. His previous experiments, like swapping blood with his teenage son, or “blood boy,” as he called him in his post, garnered attention but did not produce any proven benefits. Despite his plasma swap’s anecdotal results, such as his claim that the operator called his plasma the “cleanest” he’d ever seen, Johnson’s methods are still largely unverified by the broader medical community.

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.