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Heterochronic Exchange and Young Plasma
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# Heterochronic Exchange and Young Plasma Portal: Longevity Science Stage: Preclinical, early human pilots Evidence: Preclinical Template: Intervention Risk: Moderate Reversibility: Reversible Last reviewed: May 2026 == Summary == Sharing a young circulatory environment rejuvenates some tissues in animals, but the human versions — young plasma or plasma dilution — remain unproven and easy to oversell. == Key takeaways == * Joining young and old circulations improves some repair signals in mice. * The active question is whether dilution of old factors, not addition of young ones, drives the effect. * Commercial young-plasma infusions run far ahead of any human evidence. == Mechanism == In heterochronic parabiosis, an old animal shares a bloodstream with a young one, and several old tissues show improved regeneration. The effect is often attributed to a shift in circulating signals rather than to any single youth factor. More recent work suggests that simply diluting age-elevated factors — for example by exchanging plasma for a neutral solution — reproduces part of the benefit, reframing the mechanism from adding youth to removing accumulated signals. == Human translation == Human evidence is thin. Small studies of plasma exchange in aging and disease are early and mixed, and no regimen has shown durable healthspan benefit. Meanwhile, clinics have marketed young-plasma infusions directly to consumers, drawing regulatory warnings. The honest status is a provocative animal result whose human form is unestablished. == Open questions == * Is the benefit from removing old factors or adding young ones? * Can any human regimen show a functional, not just biomarker, effect? == Watchlist == * Plasma-dilution trials * Identified rejuvenating factors * Regulatory action on plasma clinics == References == * Heterochronic parabiosis — Conboy et al., Nature, 2005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15716955/. Foundational study showing a young circulation improves old-tissue repair. * Plasma dilution effect — Mehdipour et al., Aging, 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32474458/. Argues dilution of old factors, not youth factors, drives rejuvenation. == Categories == [[Category:Longevity Science]] [[Category:parabiosis]] [[Category:plasma]] [[Category:rejuvenation]]