Galicia bone marrow donor recruitment drops due to age limit

The reduction of the maximum age for enrolling in the Bone Marrow Donor Registry from 55 to 40 years old has led to a decline in new donor recruitment in Galicia. The policy, implemented in 2018, aimed to optimize the registry by prioritizing younger donors who offer better clinical outcomes and to prevent the aging of the donor pool.

In Galicia, the Axencia de Doazón de Órganos e Sangue (ADOS) reports that the age limit, combined with a rapidly aging population and geographic dispersion, has complicated recruitment efforts. In 2025, 772 new donors were registered, representing a 38.6% decrease from 2024 and a 28.1% drop compared to 2018. Compared to 2017, the last year before the age limit change, new registrations have fallen by 68%.

Galicia met only 54.9% of its target for the National Bone Marrow Plan last year, falling short of its goal of 1,406 new incorporations. While the national average for meeting recruitment targets was 83%, regional disparities remain significant.