The search for cutting edge ways to extend life has led to some curious experiments, including the idea that young blood could help improve the aging process. Venture capitalist Peter Thiel has said he’s interested in the possibility of young blood transfusions, and one company called Ambrosia is currently conducting a human trial of such transfusions.
The idea comes from research by scientists at institutions including Berkeley and Stanford who have conducted studies of parabiosis—the joining of two living things—in mice models. Some of the findings have been promising. But the researches argue their experiments are not ready for primetime, and in fact, there’s no solid evidence that young blood transfusions work. In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers show that the compounds in old blood appear to have a much more negative impact on aging than any rejuvenating effect from young blood.