Dr. Brad Younggren (Circulate Health): 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Dr. Brad Younggren is an emergency medicine physician, healthcare executive, and innovator renowned for his pioneering work in longevity science and medical technology. As the CEO and co-founder of Circulate Health, he is at the forefront of efforts to extend human healthspan through cutting-edge interventions like therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). With a distinguished career that includes service as a U.S. Army combat physician and leadership roles at several health technology startups, Dr. Younggren combines clinical expertise with visionary leadership to advance new medical paradigms. This article explores his background, achievements, and groundbreaking work in applying plasma exchange therapies to combat aging and age-related diseases.

1. Medical and Military Background

Dr. Brad Younggren is a trained emergency medicine specialist who served as a combat physician with the U.S. Army in Iraq. His military service earned him the Bronze Star and the Combat Medical Badge, reflecting his dedication and bravery in challenging environments. This experience shaped his approach to medicine—emphasizing rapid, innovative solutions to complex health problems. Following military service, he transitioned to civilian healthcare and technology roles where he has leveraged his clinical skills to improve patient care and health outcomes.

2. Leadership in Health Technology

Before founding Circulate Health, Younggren held senior roles in several pioneering healthcare companies. Notably, he was President and Chief Medical Officer at 98point6, where he led the development of AI-powered primary care solutions, transforming telehealth delivery. He also served as Chief Medical Officer at Cue Health, Shift Labs, and Mobisante, contributing to innovations such as point-of-care diagnostic devices and mobile health technologies, including the first FDA-approved mobile phone device for medical use in the United States.

3. Circulate Health and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

In 2024, Dr. Younggren co-founded Circulate Health, a company dedicated to deploying therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) as a novel longevity intervention. Circulate partners with clinics across the United States to offer outpatient plasma exchange treatments aimed at reducing inflammation, removing harmful biological compounds associated with aging, and potentially improving biological age. Under Younggren’s leadership, the company has rapidly expanded its clinic network and operational capacity, positioning TPE as a promising therapeutic tool in longevity medicine.

4. Scientific Basis and Clinical Research

The foundation of Circulate Health’s approach is rooted in scientific studies demonstrating that removing and replacing plasma can affect key biomarkers of aging. Dr. Younggren led a groundbreaking clinical trial published in the journal Aging Cell, which revealed that therapeutic plasma exchange, especially when combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), reduced biological age by an average of 2.61 years among older adults. The trial employed multi-omics analyses—examining epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic biomarkers—to measure improvements in healthspan indicators.

5. Expanding Access Through Clinic Partnerships

Circulate Health operates through partnerships with approximately two dozen clinics in multiple states, providing protocols, trained nurses, and physician oversight to administer TPE safely and effectively. This model allows Circulate to scale its groundbreaking treatments without owning or directly managing physical clinics, accelerating the availability of plasma exchange services and the collection of valuable clinical data.

6. Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Procedure Explained

Therapeutic plasma exchange involves removing a patient’s blood, separating out the plasma—which contains inflammatory factors and age-related harmful molecules—and returning the red and white blood cells with a replacement protein solution called albumin. The procedure, lasting about two hours, is FDA-cleared and traditionally used for certain autoimmune diseases. Circulate has adapted and refined this technique for broader outpatient use focused on aging and longevity applications.

7. Challenges and Critics of TPE Longevity Claims

While the initial clinical findings are promising, experts caution that evidence supporting plasma exchange as a longevity therapy is still preliminary. Critics note that the small-scale study did not assess long-term health outcomes or cognitive function and that the biological age improvements observed may diminish over time. There are also safety considerations, including infection risks. Dr. Younggren acknowledges these limitations and emphasizes the need for larger, longer-term studies to validate efficacy and safety.

8. Tackling Emerging Health Threats: Microplastics and Toxins

Beyond aging biomarkers, Circulate Health is pioneering research into the potential of plasma exchange to reduce microplastics and environmental toxins in the human body. These pollutants are increasingly recognized as health risks, contributing to oxidative stress and cellular damage. Dr. Younggren’s team is among the first to investigate TPE’s capacity to mitigate such modern health threats, aiming to develop scalable detoxification methods for improved healthspan.

9. Vision for the Future of Longevity Medicine

Dr. Younggren envisions therapeutic plasma exchange as a central component of a new era in preventive and longevity healthcare—one that emphasizes scientific rigor, accessibility, and integration with other emerging therapies. Circulate Health intends to use its growing clinical network to gather extensive real-world data, enhance personalized treatment protocols, and ultimately seek insurance reimbursement to make TPE more affordable and accessible to broader populations.

10. Dr. Brad Younggren's Impact and Legacy

Combining military discipline, clinical expertise, and technological innovation, Dr. Younggren is a leading figure driving the transformative potential of longevity science. His efforts to translate complex medical research into practical, outpatient therapies highlight a future where aging is not inevitable decline but a modifiable condition. As Circulate Health continues to grow, Dr. Younggren’s work may redefine how medicine approaches healthy aging, disease prevention, and lifespan extension.

Conclusion

Dr. Brad Younggren stands at the nexus of medicine, technology, and longevity research, pioneering innovative treatments that challenge traditional views of aging. Through his leadership at Circulate Health, he has propelled therapeutic plasma exchange into the spotlight as a promising intervention to rejuvenate biological age and improve healthspan. While scientific validation continues, his work underscores a critical shift toward proactive, science-based approaches to aging and chronic disease. The future may see therapies once confined to hospital settings become accessible tools for millions seeking longer, healthier lives. Will plasma exchange prove to be a cornerstone in the fight against aging? Only continued research and clinical experience will tell.