Whole-body MRI Scans - The Apeiron Life Perspective
- Elizabeth Bradley, MS
- Sep 2, 2024
- 6 min read
What it is:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields. It is non-invasive, free of X-rays, and does not use radiation (e.g. CT scans). This makes them safer for repeated use. Recently, there has been a boom in medical technology, specifically in earlier detection and preventative measures for diseases like cancer. Medical technology is a new, exciting, and fast-expanding realm of health.
MRI is particularly strong in imaging soft tissues, such as muscles, organs, fat, and connective tissues. It is, therefore, ideal for detecting larger, soft tissue tumors, such as those found in the brain, liver, and muscles. Also, spinal issues, brain and nerve issues such as Multiple sclerosis, cysts, abscesses, and others.
It is limited in its ability to detect:
Hard tumors, such as in bones.
Small tumors, such as in early-stage prostate cancer, lung nodules in lung cancer, or early-stage breast cancer.
Cancers of the blood or lymphatic system (e.g. leukemia).
However, repeated scans over the years can reveal slow-growing cancers such as gastrointestinal or pancreatic. This is due to the ability to compare your specific body changes against the original images.
Whole-body MRI scanning has recently gained attention due to interest in preventive health and early detection, driven by advances in technology and a greater emphasis on personalized medicine. Advances in MRI technology have led to direct-to-consumer sales rather than through hospitals or doctors. Therefore, anyone is able to access or request these scans. Today, we will focus mainly on Prenuvo’s specific claims and presentation of the MRI scan, but other companies offer similar services. For example:
Whole-body MRI scans with a focus on cancer screening.
SimonMed: Whole-body MRI and other imaging scans.
Health Nucleus (offered by Human Longevity, Inc.): Whole-body MRI scans, with the focus on longevity and personalized medicine. Part of a broader health assessment that includes genomics and advanced blood tests.
Q Bio: Whole-body MRI scans with a broader assessment, including blood tests and genomics. They create a digital twin of your health, allowing for a personalized approach to monitoring and maintaining health. Allowing them to utilize algorithms to analyze health data with the aim of detecting early signs of disease.
Purported claims:
Modern MRI Scans claim to differ from traditional MRI scans.
Whole-Body Focus: Traditional MRI scans are typically targeted at a specific area of the body based on a doctor's recommendation. Prenuvo provides a full-body scan that aims to detect abnormalities or potential issues across multiple organs and systems in a single session.
Preventive Screening: Prenuvo markets itself as a preventive health tool, focusing on early detection of conditions such as cancer, aneurysms, and other chronic diseases before symptoms appear. Traditional MRIs are usually diagnostic, meaning they are conducted after symptoms have presented.
Advanced Imaging Technology: Prenuvo claims to use advanced MRI techniques and proprietary protocols that allow for high-resolution images with a relatively short scan time, typically around one hour. These scans can generate thousands of images, covering the brain, spine, and other vital organs.
Comprehensive Reporting: After the scan, Prenuvo provides a detailed report that includes insights into various health aspects, such as vascular health, organ function, and more. This report is designed to be comprehensive and accessible, even for people without a medical background.
Patient-Centric Experience: Prenuvo offers a concierge-like service focusing on comfort and convenience, often in upscale settings.
What the science says:
At their core, new technologies like Prenuvo or Ezra are MRI scans. However, they represent an exciting step forward in medical care, offering a way to visualize human anatomy like never before. The scan gives access to those who desire to discover abnormalities or potential issues across multiple organs and systems in a single session.
Traditional MRIs are typically focused on a specific part of the body that a doctor has identified as needing examination, often after symptoms have already appeared. However, one important area of the scan is the medical professional’s support and explanatory ability. Fast-tech solutions such as Prenuvo don’t have the medical support systems in place that are required for complex scenarios such as cancer diagnosis. Once you’ve received the results, you now have to proceed to interpret and follow up by yourself. If you decide to go ahead with these scans, we believe it is crucial to go through the process with your personal doctor and a specialist in this new technology field.
It’s important to understand that full-body scans are most effective as a preventative measure when integrated into a regular routine. Viewing your first scan as a baseline for comparison in two years' time will provide the most valuable information. Take heed not to pay too much attention to the initial scan but treat this process as a preventative tracking measure. The vital point of these scans is to compare you to past you. Tracking changes offers more relevant information than interpreting “unusual” but benign findings. So, booking a second MRI in two years would likely give you more information than a standalone scan.
While there is a natural desire to know as much as possible about our bodies, the medical field is continually evolving, and new discoveries are being made about human anatomy. For example, our understanding of different cell masses is constantly being refined.
The overdiagnosis and overtreatment of oddities within the body can be detrimental in itself. Overdiagnosis, such as with cancers (Welch, 2010) that would otherwise not go on to cause symptoms or death, is problematic. Similarly, lumbar spine abnormalities (Balza, 2023) are relatively common in asymptomatic individuals, yet they are not necessarily detrimental.
Therefore, when considering full-body scanning, it’s important to recognize that not all detected abnormalities are harmful. More importantly, not all cancerous masses will lead to illness or require treatment. This is critical to understand as discovering an abnormality and pursuing aggressive treatments like radiation or chemotherapy could potentially shorten the lifespan you’re aiming to extend.
These tests are not without risks and can have both mental and physical drawbacks. If you live a healthy lifestyle, undergo regular screenings, and can maintain a non-anxious mindset, these additional screenings may not provide significant benefits to your overall well-being. In fact, they might introduce unnecessary stress and medical interventions that could do more harm than good. It's essential to weigh the potential benefits and risks carefully before deciding to undergo such scans.
If you have the mental resilience and the patience to handle any false positives that may arise from these scans, then this new technology could be worth exploring. The emphasis should be on the fact that the medical world is complex and our knowledge is incomplete. Therefore, ensure you have the proper medical support in place. At a minimum, your personal doctor and preferably a specialist within the cancer realm who thoroughly understands these new screening tests.
Our take:
Full-body scans can have several drawbacks, including overdiagnosis, psychological stress, false positives, potential harm from follow-up interventions, and distraction from implementing healthy lifestyle choices.
It's critical to consult with your personal doctor as to the potential benefits and risks before opting for blanket testing. Modern MRI scans are an exciting realm of all-inclusive care, but the new knowledge doesn’t necessarily advance the realm of preventative care in its current state.
Certainly, watch the space, but as our Medical Director Dev Mishra states, “The Prenuvo scan itself is a work of art, mesmerizing, a truly beautiful depiction of human anatomy. However, in my area of expertise, it will also pick up many abnormal findings in asymptomatic people.” Therefore, if you choose to complete a full-body MRI scan, be wary of any findings and ensure you are supervised by your primary care doctor and preferably an MRI specialist.
Will this benefit you?
Maybe.
Still curious to try it? If you do, here’s what to keep an eye on:
Ensure you clearly understand why you’re opting for the full-body scan. Are you looking for early detection of potential issues, or are you seeking peace of mind? Clarify your goals with your doctor.
Be aware of the risks associated with full-body scans, including overdiagnosis, false positives, and the potential for unnecessary stress or follow-up procedures. Be prepared for various outcomes that may need further investigation.
Full-body scans should not replace routine screenings and check-ups. Maintain a regular schedule of preventive care and health assessments.
References and additional reading:
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