The Effect of Blood on Aging

Here is why donating blood might increase your healthspan: In 2005, University of California, Berkeley, researchers made the surprising discovery that making conjoined twins out of young and old mice — such that they share blood and organs — can rejuvenate tissues and reverse the signs of aging in the old mice. The finding sparked a flurry of research into whether a youngster’s blood might contain special proteins or molecules that could serve as a “fountain of youth” for mice and humans alike. But a new study by the same team shows that similar age-reversing effects can be achieved by simply diluting the blood plasma of old mice — no young blood needed. In the study, the team found that replacing half of the blood plasma of old mice with a mixture of saline and albumin — where the albumin simply replaces protein that was lost when the original blood plasma was removed — has the same or stronger rejuvenation effects on the brain, liver and muscle than pairing with young mice or young blood exchange. Performing the same procedure on young mice had no detrimental effects on their health. This discovery shifts the dominant model of rejuvenation away from young blood and toward the benefits of removing age-elevated, and potentially harmful, factors in old blood.

On 08/28/2020 17:07, Roc Ordman wrote: Might one get a youthful benefit simply by donating blood at a plasma center, removing the old blood which would be naturally replaced by my body?

Kingsley responded: Good question. I checked my ginormous spread sheet of life span experiments[1]. It seems someone has studied blood donations vs. all cause mortality. People who donated more blood evidently lived a little longer.
[1] World's biggest collection of life span experiment results
    http://kingsleymorse.ch/opportunity.6.pdf

From Paul: This has been discussed before somewhat. Based on the previous experimental results, it should have a beneficial effect as long as you only donate the plasma and return the red and white blood cells to the body. I think that the body will automatically generate the necessary albumin into the thinned blood. Several decades ago I was a regular blood donor, but I have not tried plasma only donations for two reasons. First, I don't feel any need for this and that it would help any minor problems that I have (or my major left knee meniscus loss problem) and second, at my age (82), I don't think that I would be accepted as a plasma donor (unless I have antibodies for Covid-19, perhaps).

From Thomas: There is little doubt that donating blood is beneficial to the donor (especially for men). There are publications showing reduced mortality for blood donors.