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Full-body MRIs are all the rage. Celebrities and influencers tout the benefits of such scans that could find asymptomatic aneurysms and cancers lurking in your body. Sometimes, they're life-saving. Other times, they just add to your health costs and stress you out for no reason.
We spoke with three major companies that offer such testing - Function (which recently acquired Ezra), Prenuvo and SimonMed - and asked each to explain what they offer, what sets them apart and how much they cost. It's important keep in mind that insurance doesn't yet cover any of these services, and you should always discuss any medical decisions with a licensed health professional.
Here's what to know.
What to know about Function/Ezra MRI
- Cost: $499 for an MRI scan of head, neck, abdomen and pelvis (22 minutes); $1,499 for an MRI scan with spine (47 minutes); $3,999 with skeletal and neurological assessment (two scans, each 60 minutes); heart and lungs CT scan $349 (three minutes). Before you do anything, you need to sign up for Function, which costs $365 per year. That gives you access to more than 160 lab tests, nutrition recommendations and more.
- Locations: U.S. and U.K.
- The company's MRI and CT scans screen for hundreds of conditions: prostate, uterine, ovarian, bladder, pancreatic, thyroid and other cancers, plus insights regarding the brain, heart, lungs, spine, abdomen and musculoskeletal system.
- MRI and CT scans are AI-powered, with Food and Drug Administration clearance, and integrated with Function lab tests, so health information from scans isn't in a vacuum.
- Third-party board-certified radiologists interpret the results, which patients can access within 7-10 business days.
- MRI scans take 22 minutes, and you can add options for neurological, skeletal and more. Heart and lung CT takes just three to five minutes.
What to know about Prenuvo
- Cost: $999 for a torso scan (25 minutes), $2,499 for a comprehensive whole body scan (45 minutes) and $3,999 for an enhanced screening with whole body scan ($4,499 in New York City) (60 minutes).
- Locations: U.S. and international, with more clinics on the way.
- The torso scan looks for solid tumors (as early as stage 1) and metabolic disorders, plus non-cancerous conditions like cysts and hematomas. The comprehensive whole body scan also examines the whole spine, looks for neurological disorders and all kinds of aneurysms, and the enhanced screening adds a body composition analysis, lab testing and brain health assessment.
- Board-certified radiologists and oncology experts make-up its medical team. "This is really the only thing we do," adds CEO Andrew Lacy.
- The company uses research-grade MRIs "specifically for whole-body imaging and optimized with our own software protocols for diagnostic clarity, not speed." AI enhances image capture.
- Prenuvo owns and operates each clinic.
- 1.5T MRI scan; a smaller strength magnet: "A 1.5T scanner delivers clearer, more reliable images in the torso - where most cancers and diseases are found - and is safer for people with implants," according to Prenuvo's website.
What to know about SimonMed
- Cost: New longevity portfolio includes core MRI for $999, $899 intro offer (about 30 minutes); core MRI plus head and neck for $1,799, $1,599 intro offer (45 minutes); and core MRI plus head, neck and spine for $2,499, $2,199 intro offer (60 minutes).
- Locations: U.S.
- Each option looks for a host of cancers as early as stage 1 (liver, pancreas, kidney, prostate, ovaries, uterus). The pricier options examine brain, neck and spinal health; you can find specific details here.
- Enhanced screening also includes an analysis of more than 100 biomarkers and AI-powered body composition report. This measures body fat, muscle volume and symmetry.
- 3T MRI scan: "With the higher magnetic field strength of 3T MRI, we can obtain sharper images in significantly less time, making your experience smoother and more comfortable," according to SimonMed's website.
- Pioneers of preventative MRI dating back to 2003.
What's the bottom line?
Full-body MRIs are becoming more mainstream as part of a shift in our medical culture of prioritizing preventative care to the extreme.
Interested consumers now have a range of options, though all are costly, not covered by insurance and carry risks like overdiagnosis or creating a false sense of security. If you're considering getting one of these tests, do your research and consult licensed medical experts.