Warning over rise in brain 'MoT' checks

Published on Friday 4 September 2009 09:44

A NEW study has raised concerns about the growing market for brain screening tests, which people can buy as part of a general health MoT.

Researchers warn that paid-for brain scans – increasingly popular with healthy people who want to allay fears about undiagnosed brain cancer and strokes – may do more harm than good.

They analysed the results of almost 20,000 brain scans from people who undertook the tests. None of them had any symptoms suggesting that they had an underlying brain condition.

The researchers found that almost three per cent of healthy people had an abnormality on a brain MRI scan and warn that even when an incidental abnormality – such as a weakened blood vessel in the brain or a benign tumour – is discovered, there is no clear medical evidence that treatment would do more good than harm.

Dr Rustam Al-Shahi Salman, an MRC clinician scientist at Edinburgh University, said: "The difficulty with these health check-ups is that in the small number of people who do harbour some undiagnosed brain condition, there is not a clear next step.

"We do not have enough medical evidence to know whether we should treat the abnormalities or just leave them be.

"Until we have that knowledge, we cannot be sure that commercial screening benefits people with incidental findings on their brain scan."