FDA warning is blow to anti-age treatment fad that claims it could improve strength and memory and even combat Alzheimer’s

The US government has warned that older people should not be paying to have their veins filled with the blood of young people, in a blow for what was becoming a fad anti-aging treatment.

In a statement on Tuesday the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said infusions of plasma from young donors into older clients “should not be assumed to be safe or effective”, and said it was “concerned that some patients are being preyed upon by unscrupulous actors” charging thousands of dollars for transfusions.

Over the past two years there have been reports of a number of startups charging thousands of dollars for the transfusion of young people’s blood, claiming that the treatment could improve strength and memory and even combat Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. The best known company, Ambrosia, appeared to have immediately shut down following the FDA announcement.

“The FDA has recently become aware of reports of establishments in several states that are offering infusions of plasma from young donors to purportedly treat the effects of a variety of conditions,” the agency said.

“Such treatments have no proven clinical benefits for the uses for which these clinics are advertising them and are potentially harmful.

“There are reports of bad actors charging thousands of dollars for infusions that are unproven and not guided by evidence from adequate and well-controlled trials.”

Ambrosia had been the subject of a number of news articles for offering blood transfusions for $8,000. The blood was mostly taken from teenagers, and pumped into anyone over the age of 35 who was willing to pay.

Ambrosia’s founder, Jesse Karmazin, claimed that recipients reported feeling stronger and having improved memory. Many experts disagreed. As recently as December Ambrosia was – according to Karmazin – planning to open its first clinic, in New York City, however the Huffington Post reported that Ambrosia’s president and chief operating officer had both left the company that month, leaving Karmazin as the sole employee.

“In compliance with the FDA announcement issued February 19, 2019, we have ceased patient treatments,” Ambrosia said on its website. Karmazin did not respond to requests for comment.

The FDA said the risks of transfusions included allergic reactions, “transfusion associated circulatory overload” and potentially contracting infectious disease.