Longevity Science • Category 02

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange.

The science of TPE applied to longevity: how programmed replacement of blood plasma removes circulating factors associated with aging, reduces inflammaging, and enables a measurable proteomic reset. The strongest and most recent evidence: the Buck Institute study (Fuentealba et al., Aging Cell 2025).

The young plasma hypothesis, finally with data

Decades of parabiosis experiments (circulatorily connecting a young mouse with an old one) demonstrated that plasma transmits pro- and anti-aging signals. The clinical question was: can this principle be leveraged in humans without transfusing plasma from another person?

The modern answer is therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE): the patient's plasma is separated via apheresis, a fraction laden with pro-aging factors — cytokines, autoantibodies, damaged proteins — is discarded, and replaced with fresh human albumin plus electrolytes.

The body "resets" much of its circulating proteomic profile in a single session. And for the first time, we can measure that reset in years of biological age.
Buck Institute · Aging Cell · 2025

Years of biological age reduction

Fuentealba and colleagues (Buck Institute for Research on Aging) published in Aging Cell the results of a TPE + IVIG protocol applied serially. It's the first controlled human study demonstrating modification of objective aging markers — not just subjective well-being symptoms.

  • Biological age

    Average reduction

    2.6-year reduction in validated epigenetic clocks (DunedinPACE, GrimAge2) following a serial TPE + IVIG protocol.

  • Systemic inflammation

    Significant modulation

    Reduction of TNF-α and IL-6 — key markers of inflammaging associated with cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.

  • Proteomic profile

    Measurable reset

    Sustained changes in plasma proteins associated with cellular aging — the "proteomic reset" predicted by the parabiosis hypothesis.

  • Safety profile

    Equivalent to classic TPE

    Safety profile equivalent to TPE applied in approved indications (neurology, hematology) — where decades of clinical experience have accumulated.

Ch. 03 · Indications with strongest evidence

TPE applications in longevity medicine

Not all of the field has the same backing. These are the indications with the strongest published clinical evidence — the ones that guide our case-by-case clinical discussion.

  • Biological age reduction

    Buck Institute 2025

    2.6-year reduction measurable in epigenetic clocks. Primary indication in precision longevity documented in indexed literature.

  • Long COVID and post-viral

    Achleitner · Mol Psychiatry 2023

    Significant symptomatic improvement in Post-COVID syndrome with plasmapheresis and selective apheresis in patients with persistent symptoms.

  • PFAS — persistent chemicals

    Medical Hypotheses 2025

    Experimental evidence: TPE removes albumin-bound PFAS more efficiently than any other available intervention today.

  • Alzheimer's & neurodegeneration

    AMBAR · Boada · Alz & Dem 2020

    AMBAR Study (Phase IIb/III, 496 patients): 61% slowing of functional decline in the moderate Alzheimer's subgroup. Go deeper →

Why Colombia, why Wellness Care

TPE is approved in Colombia for specific hematological and neurological indications — those classified as Category I and II in the ASFA guidelines (Connelly-Smith et al., J Clin Apher 2023). Its application within a precision longevity medicine framework is new — and Wellness Care is the only clinic in the country with a dedicated apheresis device for this approach. We don't share the equipment with oncology or nephrology services.

It's integrated into our longevity protocol, with personnel specifically trained in this context. Each session is scheduled only after a complete clinical evaluation and biomarker review.

It's not a "menu" intervention. The indication is individualized, under strict medical criteria, and always subordinated to the evidence available for your specific profile.
Featured evidence

Three publications that define the state of the art of TPE in longevity medicine — the foundation on which we evaluate each clinical candidacy.

"Serial TPE combined with IVIG reduced biological age by an average of 2.6 years, measurable with validated DunedinPACE and GrimAge2 epigenetic clocks."
−2.6 years · DunedinPACE · GrimAge2
Fuentealba et al.
Buck Institute · Aging Cell · 2025
"Significant symptomatic improvement in Post-COVID syndrome patients treated with serial plasmapheresis and selective apheresis."
Post-COVID · selective apheresis · 2023
Achleitner et al.
Molecular Psychiatry · 2023
"TPE removes persistent synthetic chemicals (PFAS) bound to albumin more efficiently than any other intervention available today."
PFAS · albumin-bound · 2025
Medical Hypotheses
Mechanistic hypothesis · 2025

Frequently asked questions about Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

The recurring questions about TPE — what it is, Buck Institute 2025 evidence, cost in Colombia vs. United States, application in Long COVID, and PFAS elimination. Answers aligned with indexed literature.

01

What is Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)?

TPE is a medical apheresis procedure that separates the patient's plasma, discards a fraction laden with pro-aging factors — cytokines, autoantibodies, senescent proteins — and replaces it with fresh human albumin plus electrolytes.

The body resets a large part of its circulating proteomic profile in a single session.

02

What clinical evidence exists for TPE in longevity?

The Fuentealba et al. (Aging Cell 2025) study from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging demonstrated an average 2.6-year reduction in biological age measured by validated epigenetic clocks (DunedinPACE, GrimAge2), following a serial TPE+IVIG protocol.

It is the first controlled human study demonstrating modification of objective markers of biological aging.

Buck Institute · Aging Cell · 2025
03

How much does TPE cost in Colombia?

A TPE session in Colombia typically costs between USD 1,500 and 4,000, a fraction of the cost in the US where clinics like Maximus or Lyfe Medical charge USD 8,000–15,000 per session.

Wellness Care does not publish standard prices — indication is individualized based on clinical evaluation and biomarkers. Initial consultation is free.

04

What are the side effects of TPE?

TPE has a well-established safety profile after decades of clinical use for approved indications (neurology, hematology, autoimmune).

Common effects: transient hypotension, paresthesias from hypocalcemia (manageable with calcium), albumin reactions, post-procedure fatigue. Serious events are uncommon when performed at experienced centers.

05

Is TPE effective for Long COVID?

Yes. Achleitner et al. (Molecular Psychiatry 2023) documented significant symptomatic improvement in patients with Post-COVID syndrome treated with plasmapheresis and selective apheresis.

Other European studies suggest benefit in persistent brain fog, chronic post-viral fatigue, and residual inflammation. It is an active field of clinical research.

Achleitner · Molecular Psychiatry · 2023
06

Is Wellness Care the only clinic with TPE for longevity in Colombia?

Yes. Plasmapheresis equipment exists in Colombian hospitals for specific indications, but Wellness Care is the only clinic in the country with a dedicated apheresis device for using TPE as a pillar of a regenerative longevity program, with certified medical protocol and follow-up via advanced biomarkers.

07

How many TPE sessions are needed to see results?

In longevity medicine, the Fuentealba/Buck Institute protocol was serial over several months to achieve the 2.6-year reduction in biological age.

For specific indications like Long COVID or PFAS elimination, protocols vary between 2 and 6 sessions according to clinical response and biomarkers. The protocol is designed individually — it is not a menu intervention.

08

What is EBOO and how does it differ from Plasma Exchange?

EBOO (Extracorporeal Blood Oxygenation and Ozonation) is an advanced ozone-therapy technique where blood is oxygenated and ozonated extracorporeally before returning to the patient.

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) is mechanistically distinct: it separates the patient's plasma via apheresis and discards a fraction laden with pro-aging factors — cytokines, autoantibodies, senescent proteins, albumin-bound PFAS, circulating microplastics — replacing it with fresh human albumin.

EBOO does not remove plasma factors. It only oxygenates the blood. Indexed clinical evidence for biological age reduction, Long COVID, and elimination of persistent chemicals exists for TPE — not for EBOO.

09

Why does Wellness Care use Spectra Optia instead of EBOO?

Spectra Optia (Terumo BCT) is the international standard apheresis system for Therapeutic Plasma Exchange with the strongest clinical evidence in longevity medicine:

· Fuentealba et al. (Buck Institute, Aging Cell 2025) — 2.6-year reduction in biological age with serial TPE.
· Achleitner et al. (Molecular Psychiatry 2023) — symptomatic improvement in Long COVID.
· Emerging literature on elimination of albumin-bound PFAS and microplastics.

EBOO lacks comparable pivotal clinical trials. Wellness Care's clinical choice aligns with the strength of evidence, not the commercial novelty of equipment.

Spectra Optia · Terumo BCT · International standard
10

Does EBOO reduce biological age or eliminate microplastics?

No published indexed clinical evidence exists in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating that EBOO reduces biological age measured by validated epigenetic clocks (DunedinPACE, GrimAge2), or that it efficiently eliminates heavy metals, PFAS, or circulating microplastics.

Available evidence for these specific indications exists for Therapeutic Plasma Exchange with standard apheresis systems like Spectra Optia.

Any clinic offering EBOO with these specific indications should be able to show the indexed clinical literature supporting them — demand it before proceeding.

The real promise

What circulates in your plasma defines how you age — and what stays there doesn't have to stay. TPE is the only intervention documented to measurably reverse biological age.

Halting inflammaging, eliminating circulating PFAS and microplastics, restoring the proteomic environment — these are real interventions with indexed evidence, not promises. The health you live your next decades with starts with what you stop carrying.

Does this apply to your case?

Schedule your consultation about Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

We evaluate clinical history, biomarkers, and individual objectives to determine if TPE makes sense in your personal protocol. Not all patients are candidates — and those who are require an individualized protocol under medical criteria.

Schedule consultation about TPE