FDA warns about young-blood transfusions

The FDA is warning that plasma infusions from young people offer “no proven clinical benefit” against aging, Alzheimer’s, and a host other diseases — a sharp rebuke of an industry that’s gained steam in recent years. Young-blood transfusions typically involve taking plasma from young donors, processing it, and infusing it into aging recipients. But there's no compelling evidence the procedure can treat any conditions, the FDA says — and like any transfusion, it comes with risks. FDA officials say they "strongly discourage consumers from pursuing this therapy outside of clinical trials" that are being reviewed and regulated.

The FDA didn’t name names — but a controversial startup has allegedly stopped offering the transfusions following the warning. Ambrosia's founder told Business Insider last month that the startup was offering transfusions in five cities and charging $8,000 a liter. Now, Ambrosia’s website says that "in compliance with the FDA announcement issued February 19, 2019, we have ceased patient treatments."